The football scene in Kolkata is about to become even more electrifying with the arrival of Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Indian Super League (ISL).

The Black and White Brigade, under Andrey Chernyshov, secured their historic first I-League title in the 2023-24 season, earning them direct promotion to the ISL. They will now join East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, marking the first time in a decade that Kolkata’s three major clubs will compete in the same tier. Notably, Mohammedan Sporting Club become only the second team, after Punjab FC, to secure direct promotion to the ISL from the I-League.

A Long-Awaited Return

Since their relegation from the I-League in 2014, Mohammedan SC has been absent from the top tier for a decade. Their comeback, however, has been nothing short of remarkable, surpassing many expectations. The Black and White Brigade clinched the I-League title with a game to spare, sealing their promotion with a decisive 2-1 victory over Shillong Lajong away from home.

Mohammedan SC finished the season with 52 points across 24 matches, recording 15 wins and seven draws. They scored 44 goals and conceded only 22. Eddie Hernandez was the club's leading scorer with 13 goals, and Alexis Gomez was the top assist provider with six.

Following their relegation to I-League 2 in 2014, Mohammedan SC endured a challenging period, spending five seasons in the lower division. However, during the 2019-20 season, they achieved a significant milestone by securing their return to the I-League.

During the 2021-22 season, they narrowly missed winning the I-League, having held the top position for most of the campaign before losing to Gokulam Kerala FC on the final matchday. However, they made a remarkable comeback in the 2023-24 season, securing their place in the history books.

How the title-winning campaign unfolded for Mohammedan SC?

The prospect of promotion to the top-tier league presented a golden opportunity for I-League clubs, offering a pathway to the ISL.

Following a mid-table finish in the 2022-23 I-League season, Mohammedan SC made a pivotal decision to re-appoint Chernyshov as their head coach ahead of the I-League. The Russian tactician, who had guided the Black and White Brigade to a second-place finish in the 2021-22 season, returned with a clear mission: to lead the club to glory. 

Armed with experience, quality, and a rich history, the century-old club entered the season as one of the favourites. From the outset, it felt like only a matter of time before their return to the top tier was realised.

Mohammedan SC wasted no time in asserting their dominance, beginning the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Aizawl FC. By Matchweek 5, they had seized the top spot in the league after a crucial away win against Rajasthan United FC. From that moment on, they never relinquished their lead. The team embarked on an 11-match unbeaten run, which included eight wins, firmly establishing their grip on the league. This impressive streak featured a five-match winning run, highlighted by a commanding 6-0 victory over TRAU FC.

Their first setback came in Matchweek 13 when they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Real Kashmir FC away from home, where they were outplayed on the day by the home side. However, this loss proved to be a mere blip in an otherwise remarkable season.

The Black and White Brigade responded with another unbeaten run, this time lasting 11 matches, during which they secured seven more victories. This run culminated in their first-ever I-League title, a historic achievement for the club. 

The decisive moment arrived in a high-stakes away match against Shillong Lajong FC. With their passionate supporters in attendance, a 62nd-minute goal from Evgeniy Kozlov secured a vital win, confirming Mohammedan SC as the champions. Although they ended the season with a 3-1 defeat to Delhi FC, only their second loss of the campaign, the result did little to dampen their celebrations.

Mohammedan SC's triumph was celebrated in style at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, where they lifted the I-League trophy in front of their adoring fans, marking their return to top-tier football after a 10-year long absence.

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