Kalinga Super Cup: Mohun Bagan beat Kerala Blasters to enter semis

Samad, Bhat strike in either half as reigning ISL champions stage strong bid for a third trophy this season

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Fresh from winning two consecutive trophies by clinching the League Shield and ISL Cup, Mohun Bagan Super Giant took their rich vein of form into the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 by defeating Kerala Blasters FC 2-1 in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

The ISL Shield and Cup-winning Mariners, fielding an all-Indian squad except for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, scored once in each half through Sahal Abdul Samad (22') and Suhail Ahmad Bhat (51'). Sreekuttan MS (90+4') pulled one back for the Blasters, but it was too little, too late as Mohun Bagan SG, helped by a solid performance from goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, entered the semi-finals. Bastab Roy's side will face the winners of the clash between FC Goa and Punjab FC in the semi-final on April 30.

The game began at a leisurely pace, with both teams not committing many bodies in the opposition half. After 20 minutes of no goalmouth action, Mohun Bagan SG churned out the opener with their first meaningful attack of the match.