XtraTime Newsdesk

Just a few days ago, NorthEast United suffered a humiliating 7-0 defeat against East Bengal. But the same team bounced back spectacularly to stun heavyweight Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their opening match of the Indian Super League. This was a completely different NorthEast United side, one that forgot its recent humiliation, fought toe-to-toe with the Mariners and snatched victory with a stoppage-time goal.

The question is, how did this happen?

Football is ultimately a game of goals. If you fail to convert your chances, results like this are inevitable. Mohun Bagan might not have been at their best, but they had enough opportunities to win the match by a comfortable margin.

Early in the game, Erwin unleashed a spectacular volley that crashed against the crossbar. In the 43rd minute, he wasted another opportunity by taking too long to get his shot away. Soon after the restart, he missed again, sending a close-range effort wide from barely six yards out. The player who had impressed so much in the derby was nowhere near that form.

Alberto Rodriguez attempted a surprise shot from around 35 yards. With a little more dip, it could have been a stunning goal. Abhishek Mitai also cut inside brilliantly but failed to get his shot right. Had he placed it towards the far post, he might have found the net.

Miguel, immediately after coming on, fired a powerful low shot from a difficult angle straight into Gurmeet's hands. Late in the game, Suhail Bhat squandered a golden opportunity when he failed to connect properly with Liston's cross. At moments like these, Mohun Bagan were desperately missing the sharpness of Maclaren in front of goal.

Instead, it was NorthEast United who struck in injury time. Jithin was perfectly positioned to capitalise after Gurmeet produced an outstanding save from a powerful effort near the edge of the box. The ball rebounded off the crossbar and fell invitingly into Jithin's path. With no Mohun Bagan defender around to clear the danger, he made no mistake.

Mohun Bagan's defence, marshalled superbly by Alberto for most of the match, made that one crucial mistake—and paid the ultimate price.

NorthEast United also became more threatening after Chhangte was substituted in the second half. With his pace no longer causing problems, the visitors began using both wings more effectively to launch their attacks.

Yet, despite enjoying considerable possession and creating opportunities, Mohun Bagan repeatedly misplaced passes in crucial areas. That remains one of the biggest mysteries of their performance.

Samir Jelcovic, another player who failed to reproduce his derby form, also struggled to make the desired impact. The rhythm that had characterised Mohun Bagan's derby performance was missing, but they still had no business losing this match.

Erwin can drop deeper and contribute to the build-up, but he has yet to demonstrate the same clinical finishing that Maclaren brings to the team. Had Mohun Bagan converted even a fraction of their chances, the outcome could have been very different.

There was also a question over the referee's timekeeping. NorthEast United players appeared to waste valuable seconds during injury time. Given the circumstances, the referee could arguably have added at least another minute.

For Mohun Bagan, this was a defeat that could have been avoided. For NorthEast United, it was a remarkable response to their derby humiliation—and a reminder that in football, taking your chances matters more than dominating the game.