Mohun Bagan SG staged a comeback win against NorthEast United FC as they defeated the Highlanders by a 4-2 scoreline at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.

Despite conceding an early goal from Tomi Juric’s penalty, the Mariners fought well throughout the match and netted four goals to continue to secure their third consecutive win. Liston Colaco, Jason Cummings, Dimitri Petratos, and Sahal Abdul Samad found their names on the scoresheet as they completed a league double over the Highlanders.

After the match, Mohun Bagan SG players shared their insights on the match following an impressive win.

This is who we are: Sahal Abdul Samad

Since joining the club during the summer transfer window, Sahal Abdul Samad has been very effective with his creativity and his varied passing range. The skilled midfielder, who scored his first ISL goal for the club against NorthEast United FC, dedicate his goal to the beloved club supporters and his family.

“I want to dedicate my goal to my wife, my family, and the fans who are supporting us throughout the season,” Sahal told indiansuperleague.com.

Samad was delighted to see how they responded after trailing by a goal. He shared his pleasure with how they demonstrated their character on the pitch.

“I’m very happy for the team. We continued fighting. This is who we are, and this is how we want to play,” he stated.

“Really happy for my team and also for myself. Let’s hope it will be a good start. I hope to score many goals for this club. Hopefully, everything will be going well,” he added.

Samad had words of praise for Joni Kauko, who provided a hat trick of assists against the Highlanders.

Speaking in context, he said, “He (Joni Kauko) is an amazing player to have. I didn’t know how good he was until now. He is a fantastic player, and I hope to play many games with him.”

The midfielder is anticipating a tough challenge against Odisha FC in their next match.

Talking about their next match, he commented, “Definitely, it will be a test for us. It will be a tough match. We’ll be ready for the game (against Odisha FC).”

We won for playing with heart and passion: Dimitri Petratos

Aussie forward Dimitri Petratos revealed how challenging the match was from the offset. He believes that playing with confidence throughout the 90 minutes helped his side to get all three points.

“It was a difficult game from the beginning, but we fought the whole time. We didn't give up,” he stated.

“And as soon as we got the goal back, the next one came straight away. So, we had the confidence to do this and the belief to do it. We stuck to the game plan. We didn't panic, and the outcome was great. Despite being tired, we fought. It's about the heart and the passion that we brought today. This is why we got the win,” he continued.

Petratos emphasised the significance of having several key players in the squad who can change the dimension of the game at any moment of the match. Speaking about their four different goal scorers, he said, “Anyone can score. This is the most important.”

“And you see the celebrations; we all celebrate together. Everybody's happy, which is a big positive. This is very something that we've been working on to be closer as a team and work together, enjoy the game, and give joy to the fans,” he further added.

Petratos also felt short of words while describing Finnish midfielder Joni Kauko

He said: “He was amazing. He's got a lot of experience. He's a great player, and I don't need to say much more here. He was awesome today.”

It’s important to get back into rhythm: Liston Colaco

Liston Colaco got his name on the scoresheet straight after coming back from a four-match suspension he faced after the Mumbai City FC match. The forward was happy to contribute to the team and score against the Highlanders.

“It’s a great feeling to score. I think it is also an important moment for me to get back into rhythm after the break. So, I am very happy and confident about it,” Colaco said.

I had the belief that our team could bounce back: Subhasish Bose

Mohun Bagan SG captain and defender Subhasish Bose highly praised his fellow teammates for performance. He believes that their determination to bounce back was key in securing all three points on the home turf.

“I had the belief that our team could bounce back despite trailing by a goal because we have players who have the personality to give their best for the team,” he said.

“Obviously, it feels good when your team wins. Our dressing room atmosphere is very good now. It was very important for us to win against FC Goa and NorthEast United to continue the chase for the league shield. So, our next target is to get three points against Odisha FC. We played three games this week, and now the players will have the time to recover,” he added.

Bose revealed that they had their eyes set on winning games in front of their home fans. He believes their supporters have been pivotal in their success, even during their difficult times.

“We were focused on winning this home game against thousands of supporters. The fans cheered for us throughout the game and supported us a lot,” he said.

“The most important thing is that our supporters are happy with our performance, and all our players are well-adapted to our fans here in Kolkata and enjoy their time with them as a family,” he added.

Speaking about Kauko’s decisive performance, Bose stated, “Joni Kauko made a difference on the pitch with his presence. He provided a hat-trick of assists. And I think everyone performed excellently in the match. I’m hopeful that our team will do well in our upcoming matches.”

The Kolkata-born defender had words of praise for his fellow defender, Dippendu Biswas. He acknowledged Biswas' ability to develop his game and adjust quickly to new surroundings in the ISL.

“Dippendu Biswas played very well in the last match (against FC Goa) and also against NorthEast United FC,” he asserted.

“I hope he will continue with his performance, and our support will always be there for him. Especially, he will definitely have my guidance so that he can develop his game. I wish him to be a big name from Bengal and represent the national team as well,” he signed off.

I’m very happy to get a chance: Dippendu Biswas

Since making his ISL debut under Antonio Lopez against Hyderabad FC, Dippendu Biswas has showcased maturity and composure in defence, which has earned him a place in the starting eleven for the Mariners in the previous two league games.

Reflecting on his debut ISL season, Biswas said, “I’m very happy to get a chance in my first ISL season. Everyone is supporting me. I want our supporters to continue supporting us, and we’ll give our best for them.”

He also explained how his senior players help him grow as a footballer and guide him during the match.

“Hector Yuste is supporting me a lot. He always guides me throughout the match, which really helps me to perform well,” he signed off.