Mohun Bagan: Stuck in second place?

There is an idiom prevalent in the English language that says "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" which perfectly encapsulates Kolkata giant Mohun Bagan's 2016-17 season. Be it the I-League or the recently concluded Federation Cup, the green and maroon brigade have been relegated to play second fiddle to teams like Aizawl FC and Bengaluru FC in the I-League and the Federation Cup respectively.

Having played brilliantly the whole season, the Sanjoy Sen led team have consistently slipped up when it mattered the most. Taking into account the April 22 match against Aizawl which was a potential decider in this season's I-League crown, Mohun Bagan needed to simply win the match to secure its second title in three years but they slipped up and lost the match 0-1 to Aizawl, which would ultimately lead to Aizawl becoming the first Northeastern side to clinch the I-league.

While that is a brilliant achievement for a side which had been relegated the last season and was only promoted back to the top-flight due to Goa clubs opting out because of disputes with the AIFF, Mohun Bagan should have seized the opportunity.

Mohun Bagan had started brilliantly in the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Aizawl, but as the match progressed their shoulders drooped and they were overwhelmed by the home team who was charged up by the supporters who were chanting loudly with chorus' accompanying every forward pass from a red shirt.

Aizawl finally got the goal that they deserved in the 83rd minute from a corner when Zohmingliana Ralte headed the ball, delivered by Mahmoud Al Amna, into the back of the net sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Bad man marking had again dealt the fatal blow into Mohun Bagan's title aspirations. This error would prove very costly as Aizawl would ultimately waltz to the title, leaving Mohun Bagan out in the cold, clutching the second spot.

The curse struck again at the recently concluded Federation Cup final where Mohun Bagan faced Bengaluru FC for the coveted title.

Bagan went into the match as favourites, having thrashed arch-rivals East Bengal 2-0 in the semi-finals while Bengaluru knocked out I-League champions Aizawl FC by a solitary spot kick goal. In a strange twist of fate, just days before they were scheduled to meet Bengaluru FC in the finals of the Federation Cup, Mohun Bagan would meet their final challengers in a group stage match of the AFC Cup.

In that match, Bagan prevailed 3-1 which boosted their confidence and they headed into the final showdown as heavy favourites but alas, fate had different plans. With both teams unable to break the deadlock in normal time, everything was dependent on 30 minutes of Extra Time, as the scenario of a nerve-racking penalty shootout loomed over the horizon.

During Extra Time, Bengaluru took advantage of Mohun Bagan's lapse of concentration as Kerala-born player CK Vineeth slotted two goals in. Mohun Bagan had choked and let another title slip from their grasp as they returned home empty-handed.