Jamie Maclaren was the star of the night as Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a solid 2–0 win over Chennaiyin FC in their Group A encounter of the AIFF Super Cup 2025–26 at the PJN Stadium on Saturday.
The Australian forward’s well-taken brace guided the Mariners to the top of the group standings, setting a confident tone for their campaign.
The opening half was played under challenging conditions as heavy rain turned the pitch slippery, testing both teams’ balance and ball control. Despite the weather, Mohun Bagan maintained composure and structure, with defenders Thomas Aldred, Alberto Rodríguez, and Mehtab Singh keeping Chennaiyin’s forwards largely at bay.
In midfield, Lalengmawia (Apuia) Ralte and Anirudh Thapa dictated the tempo, probing for spaces to unlock Chennaiyin’s defence.
Chennaiyin came close to drawing first blood when a mistimed clearance from Alberto fell kindly for Laldinpuia, whose cross found Jiteshwor Singh. His strike forced a sharp save from Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith, denying what could have been an early breakthrough.
The Mariners quickly responded, and in the 38th minute, a moment of brilliance from Liston Colaco set the tone. His deft back-heel found Maclaren on the move, and the striker coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1–0. Chennaiyin pressed for an equaliser before the break, but attempts from Lalrinliana Hnamte and a late free-kick were comfortably dealt with by Bagan’s backline.
As the rain eased after the interval, the pace of the game quickened. Chennaiyin earned an early free-kick in the 46th minute after Alberto committed a foul and received a yellow card, but the resulting effort failed to test Kaith. Mohun Bagan, however, remained relentless in attack. Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute when Manvir Singh delivered a precise cross from the left, and Maclaren was perfectly positioned to sweep home his second goal of the night.
Three minutes later, Thapa nearly added a third with a curling left-footed attempt that drifted just wide. With a comfortable two-goal cushion, Bagan tightened control, creating further chances through quick interplays between Manvir and Liston, while Chennaiyin’s defence—marshalled by former Bagan captain Pritam Kotal—fought hard to limit further damage.
The result puts Mohun Bagan Super Giant atop Group A, following East Bengal’s 2–2 draw with Dempo SC. The Mariners next face Dempo on October 28 at the same venue, while Chennaiyin will look to bounce back when they meet East Bengal in Bambolim.
