Mohun Bagan Super Giant scripted yet another iconic comeback at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan to book their place in the Indian Super League (ISL) final for the third season in a row.

The Mariners overturned a first-leg deficit with a commanding 2-0 victory over Jamshedpur FC, courtesy of second-half goals from Jason Cummings and Apuia.

Jose Molina’s men showcased sheer offensive prowess against the Men of Steel, who had set up with a compact defensive structure from the start. The Mariners’ grit, resilience, and perseverance ultimately paid off, thanks to the Mizo midfielder's last-minute screamer that sealed a spot in the final for the League Shield winners.

MBSG recorded 73.6% possession against Jamshedpur FC—the highest in any ISL playoff match and also the highest ever for the Mariners in an ISL game. In addition, they attempted 35 shots, the joint-highest by any team in a single ISL match and the outright highest in ISL Playoffs history.

Following the emphatic win in Kolkata, MBSG’s defensive duo of Alberto Rodriguez and Subhasish Bose spoke to indiansuperleague.com, sharing their thoughts on the semi-final performance and the upcoming mega-final.

We believed until the end: Alberto Rodriguez

Alberto Rodriguez has been a stalwart at the back for the Mariners with his towering presence at the backline. The Spanish defender shared his delight at making it to the ISL final and highlighted their never-say-die attitude behind such a fantastic comeback.

“Yes, a clean sheet is very important for us. Because we always have a chance to score a goal. You can see today (Monday) we believed until the end. It was not easy because they (JFC) were doing really well. But it's ok. We believed until the end. We tried every time, and we won. We are going to the final,” he said.

Rodriguez urged their faithful supporters to keep supporting the team in the crucial ISL Cup final. He wanted to win the Cup title to complete a double in the ISL, a feat that the Mariners have never achieved before.

“Yes, of course. But that's why I told you when we won the Shield. We are Mohun Bagan Super Giant. We want to win everything. So now we just take a rest. We recover and try to be fit, to be ready for the final. Because we play at home, and it's very important for us. We will try to win the trophy,” he opined.

“The final is the last game we play at home (this season). We trust in our team. We play with our fans because they support us every day, every game. So this is very important for us. When we play at home, we have good confidence. We try to do our best. If we continue like this, we will win the final,” he further added.

The Spaniard pointed out that the absence of a player like Apuia at the heart of the pitch was a factor in their 1-2 defeat in Jamshedpur in the first leg. However, he had words of praise for Apuia, who went on to score the winner in the second-leg semi-final, helping MBSG move one step closer to another piece of silverware.

“Yes, of course. We missed Apuia in the last game (in the first leg). He is a very good player. He is a good midfielder. He can play with the ball, without the ball. He helps the team so much. I am so happy for him. Because we deserved this goal. He tried, and with this goal, we won the game,” he stated.

Rodriguez acknowledged Bengaluru FC’s collective strength and remained optimistic about scripting history with MBSG.

He anticipated a tough contest in the final, saying, “I know Sunil Chhetri. He is an amazing player. He is doing really well. For us, it is just to be ready for the final. We will play like a family. Nothing more. Just be ready and keep going.”

We will try to complete the league double: Subhasish Bose

Subhasish Bose took pride in his team’s performance, calling it a testament to their collective spirit and champion mentality.

The Mariners’ captain, who has successfully led MBSG to defend the League Shield for the first time, now has his sights set on the ISL Cup to complete a double—an achievement previously accomplished only by Mumbai City FC in league history.

“It's a dream to play for Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Every player wants to win trophies. We will try to win the Cup and complete the league double,” he said.

Bose expressed his faith in Apuia and commended the dynamic midfielder, whose right-footed curler not only amazed the crowd but also sent them into party mode.

“Apuia scored the most important goal of the season. We proved that we're the best team. We're just one step away. I'm proud of my team,” he remarked.

MBSG will face Bengaluru FC, who are also coming off a tremendous run in the playoff fixtures, in the ISL final.

Like his defensive partner Rodriguez, Bose anticipated a thrilling battle against the Blues and called on the Mariners to turn up in large numbers to help secure their second ISL Cup title.

"Obviously, Bengaluru FC have quality players. But we'll play at our home ground. Our Mariners' fighters will be there as the 12th man in the stands. We'll try to win the ISL Cup this season," he opined.

"I want to request all the fans to come to the stadium and support us on the 12th. We'll try our best to win the ISL Cup and keep the trophy in Kolkata," Bose concluded.

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Mohun Bagan Super GiantJamshedpur FCBengaluru FC2024-2025 Alberto Rodriguez MartinSubhasish Bose