Defender Dippendu Biswas was ecstatic after scoring his first senior goal for Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their 3-2 comeback victory over NorthEast United FC on Monday.

The homegrown talent has broken into Jose Molina’s starting lineup this season following the departure of Anwar Ali, featuring for the full 90 minutes in both of their opening Indian Super League (ISL) fixtures.

Biswas's big moment arrived in the 10th minute when he expertly met Dimitrios Petratos' free-kick with a looping header, securing his first goal for the senior side and pulling his team level after an early setback in the 4th minute.

“I am very happy. This is my first goal in the ISL. I have played many matches but it’s my first ISL goal and that too for a big team like Mohun Bagan SG."

"I never thought I'd score the equalising goal this way,” Biswas told indiansuperleague.com after the game in Kolkata.

The Mariners have finally secured their first victory in four matches across all competitions and are determined to build on this momentum as they set their sights on extending their winning run in the upcoming fixtures.

“We finally won after a few tough games. We had some draws and a loss in recent matches, but I’m hopeful that we’ll get some good results in the games ahead,” he said.

The 21-year-old made his ISL debut midway through last season against Hyderabad FC, though his game time was limited.

Now, with a renewed opportunity this season, Biswas is determined to seize it and make a significant contribution to the team’s success.

"The coach gave me a chance and showed faith in me. I’m working hard to prove that trust and will do my best to contribute to the team," he said.

This win will boost the morale of the team: Subhasish Bose

Mohun Bagan Super Giant captain Subhasish Bose praised young defender Biswas for his standout performance against NorthEast United FC.

He highlighted how the goal would greatly boost Biswas's confidence and noted the revitalized atmosphere in the dressing room following the victory.

“Dippendu (Biswas) played really well, and his goal will boost his confidence,” Bose told indiansuperleague.com after the game in Kolkata.

“It is also good for the team to secure the three points. We performed well and made a comeback to get back to winning ways. This win will boost the morale of the team, and we hope to perform better in the upcoming matches,” he added.

However, Bose felt there is still room for improvement, especially in the team’s defensive area, where they have been conceding goals too easily. He stressed the importance of reviewing their mistakes and correcting them to meet their target of keeping clean sheets.

“The team is trying to keep clean sheets, but opponents also come onto the pitch looking to score goals; they have good players, too.”

“We were playing attacking football, and they scored their second goal from our corner through a counterattack. We need to rectify these issues and analyze them so we can improve and keep clean sheets in the coming matches,” Bose said.

The 29-year-old once again demonstrated his knack for scoring crucial goals for his team against NorthEast United FC. He netted from close range in the second half, helping to bring his side back into the game for the second time.

Remarkably, this is the third season in a row that Bose has found the back of the net against the Highlanders.

“I scored in a difficult situation for the team, which is the most important thing. I scored against NorthEast United FC last season, and I’ve scored against them again this season. My target is to help the team as much as possible in attack, alongside my defensive duties,” Bose commented.

We need to learn from the mistakes: Tom Aldred

Tom Aldred, who stepped in for the injured Alberto Rodriguez in the starting XI, echoed Bose's sentiments about the work needed to shore up their defence and achieve clean sheets.

He also remarked on how the opposition utilized their strengths to score both goals.

“Obviously we don't want to concede two goals. We knew that they were a counter-attacking team. That's where we got punished which is something that we don't want to happen. We need to learn from it,” Aldred said.

When asked about Biswas' performance on the night and his big moment, he said, “He was great and scored a good goal.”

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant2024-2025 Subhasish BoseDippendu Biswas