With the performance he put out, Punjab FC was able to earn three very useful points and move a place up on the table into 3rd place when they defeated Mohammedan SC by a scoreline of 2-0 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. Gurunanak Stadium, Punjab was the venue of struggle and outdid the opponents as they were able to contain them very well and were aggressive both in attack and defense.
Out in the field the side never substantiates frustration as they had ruled the season proving sable. However, with this win they extended their unbeaten run and continued to build their point standing which are crucial. Mohammedan SC on the other hand will be disappointed as they could not finish multiple great chances in the match.
The match was very even as there was a lot to prove for both sides. Punjab FC, competing at home, had greater ball control allowing them to navigate the tempo of the match. Mohammedan SC on the other seem contented sitting back and looking for opportunities to counter attack and that would not be possible due to Punjab dominating the midfields by sheer brute force, particularly through Sukhjit Singh and Kamalpreet Singh.
The first finishing moment came whereby Punjab FC center forward received a well weighted cross from Lalrindika Ralte. It was in the 28th minute when Gursimran Singh the Punjab forward strikes the net courtesy of a well weighted cross from Ralte which led to the first point.
A ball came from the left flank and Gursimran was in the best position to execute the header as he did by placing the ball away from the goalkeeper of Mohammedan, Shilton Paul. The goal cheered the fans at home and Punjab’s early dominance was rightly rewarded by a goal.
After the goal, Punjab was the better side throughout the match as they kept the ball and pressed forward whenever there was an opportunity. In the first half, there were minimal difficulties that the Punjab goalkeeper, Nikolai Kitanov, had to deal with as Mohammedan SC was unable to create any decent chances. The attacking midfielders, Abhishek Kamat and Shubham Sarangi, who were supposed to link up well with the attacking front of Mohammedan, did not form an effective alliance with their striker, Stefano Vecchia.
The entire defensive setup of Punjab was crucial for their dominance during the course of the match. The back four which was comprising of Randeep Singh and Kiran Kumat was solid and gave no room for the attacking force of Mohammedan to have any in the box or near the edge. At the end of the first half, Punjab FC was leading 1-0 and they seemed very comfortable as they started the second half.
Second Half: Punjab Reigns Supreme.
The second half began with Mohammedan SC coming out with more intent however one could argue that with intent, they lacked the structure about how to break down the Punjab defense.
To revive their thrust, Manager Andrei Kuznetsov substituted Mohammed Nazim and Mohammed Rafique for strategy changes. However, Punjab’s defense was still intact and with a maximum of 30 to 60 seconds play, they doubled their advantage in the 61st minute.
To begin with, the second goal was scored after a scintillating counter attack. After Mohammedan’s bid to break through Punjab’s defense failed, Sukhjit Singh intercepted the ball at the heart of the pitch and immediately set it for Jovial Marshall, who was charging forward. With his physical attributes of speed and directional strength, Marshall not only outrun his marker but passed the ball to Amritpal Singh who was waiting at the right place to shoot. Trellis soccer. Amritpal’s finish sent Punjab to a more comfortable lead of 2-0.
At this stage, Punjab was full of confidence. it appeared that there was nothing that could get in the way of Punjab’s ability to execute free flowing attacking football. Meanwhile, with some changes made on their side, Mohammedan could not break through the barrier that was the Punjab defense. Their best chance came in the 72nd minute where Vecchia hit a powerful shot from numero uno of the box only for Kitanov to make a low diving save to his left.
Punjab slowed down during the last twenty minutes of the match with Ball possession and maintained the tempo of the game until the end.
All of Mohammedan SC’s efforts were in place, even though the team at times drug their feet, and failed to give Kitanov a second shot. The game ended 2-0, really in favour of Punjab and on this day, the home team celebrated an industry which took them to third place on the ISL table.
Remarkable Performances: The Combined Efforts of Punjab FC
Punjab FC glorified the game’s victory, thanks to herd mentality. Gursimran Singh proved to be the standout player, that was not only evidenced by the fact that he netted the opening goal but also that he tirelessly chased after the ball at all times, trying to penetrate through the Mohammedan SC defenses. Both Kamalpreet Singh and Sukhjit Singh were prominent at centre of the park, controlling the midfield and serving the forwards with great passes. At the offense, Amritpal Singh was precise assuring that he would put away chances when they came his way.
The very organized and disciplined defense, led by Randeep Singh and Kiran Kumat was backed by a calm and composed Nikolai Kitanov who ensured that the nets remained unscathed. The three centre backs were all intelligent and organized in their positioning, thus restricting the Mohammedan SC from creating any clear chances to come back to the match.
2285 Even though he did not get enough aid in and around the final third, Stefano Vecchia did come out as the most likely player for Mohammedan SC to create chances.
The frontline of Shubham Sarangi and Abhishek Kamat didn’t do much to make an impact while Shilton Paul couldn’t fend off the two goals as the defense in front of him failed to adequately deal with the attacking threat that Punjab posed.
Summary: A Pivotal Win For Punjab FC
With this 2-0 win Punjab FC has improved up to the 3rd position in the ISL 2024-25 table, continuing their good form this season. They worked as a unit very well, and will now look to be able to put in performances which will allow them to remain in the higher part of the table as the season progresses. Mohammedan SC have worked very hard too, however, they will need to alter their approach and address their offensive shortcomings before they can aim for higher positions in the league.
In all standings, this victory is a step ahead in Punjab’s quest to reach the top four, and looking at their dominance, they are ready to fight the top teams in the league. Possessing a complete squad and tactical discipline, this will be their approach to the rest of the season.
If you are interested for more: “Punjab FC 2-0 Mohammedan SC: ISL 2024-25 Highlights as PFC Climb to 3rd in Standings” “Pushpa 2: The Rule Box Office Collection Day 2: Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna’s Film Crosses Rs. 400 Crore Worldwide”