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It needed something special to break Jamshedpur FC’s steely resolve. And after 180 minutes of pulsating football, Lalengmawia ‘Apuia’ Ralte’s thunderbolt did just that. In the 94th minute of an ISL semifinal at the Salt Lake Stadium, Apuia wrote his name into Mohun Bagan folklore.
It was the goal of his dreams, straight out of Jamshedpur’s worst nightmare. When he received the pass 25 yards from goal, he let the ball roll across his body with his first touch before swinging his right foot at it. The same right foot that had swollen like a balloon days earlier.
After missing his side’s 1-2 defeat in the away leg, Bagan’s medical staff scrambled to get him fit for the return leg. As he prepared to shoot, it seemed the ball had rolled too far behind him. But Apuia adjusted, slicing his right foot through it.
The shot rocketed past Albino Gomes’ fingertips and into the net. Albino Gomes, who had an excellent game in goal, had no chance of stopping Apuia’s goal. | Photo Credit: Abhijit Addya/Focus Sports/ FSDL It was Apuia’s first goal in the iconic Green and Maroon after his Rs.
1.4 crore summer move. “I think this was the best time,” he reflected on finally getting off the mark.
REPORT | Mohun Bagan overturns deficit to beat Jamshedpur FC, sets up final against Bengaluru FC As the ball crashed into the top corner, nervous energy from the stands gave way to thunderous roars. JFC’s Javi Hernandez, who failed to close down Apuia, collapsed onto the pitch. Fireworks erupted in the background as a horde of cameramen chased after the midfielder, capturing his moment of glory.
Returning from injury, Apuia had a demanding task in a lone No. 6 role against a disciplined Jamshedpur side. Against a resolute low-block team that posed a counter-attacking threat, he had to balance defensive duties with initiating attacks.
Apuia’s inclusion signalled Jose Molina’s intent. He also opted for the directness of Ashique Kuruniyan on the left and a fresh Jamie Maclaren up front to capitalise on chances inside the box. Right from kick-off, Bagan threw everything at Jamshedpur.
Khalid Jamil’s men had arrived at the hostile Salt Lake Stadium with a clear plan: sit deep, deny space, and frustrate Bagan’s attackers. Jamshedpur absorbed pressure but rarely tested Vishal Kaith. At home, it had played Jordan Murray and Javier Siverio in a two-man strike force.
In Kolkata, Jamil opted for only Murray, who struggled alone up front. Hernandez, who scored the late winner in the first leg, couldn’t get on the ball enough to influence the game. Jamshedpur’s collective resolve was broken at the death by Ralte’s strike.
| Photo Credit: Abhijit Addya/Focus Sports/ FSDL With Bagan dominating possession, the match hinged on whether Jamshedpur could withstand the relentless pressure. Every Bagan outfielder had a shot at goal, only to be denied by an inspired Albino Gomes. Gomes tipped over a swerving long-range effort from Ashish Rai before clawing out Jason Cummings’ curling strike.
But Cummings eventually levelled the aggregate score from the penalty spot in the second half. Bagan registered 35 attempts at goal but struggled to break down Jamshedpur’s compact defence. Molina urged his players to shoot from distance, given the lack of space in the final third.
More than half of Bagan’s shots (19) came from outside the box. The last of those came in the dying moments, with less than a minute left before extra time. Halder lost possession to Anirudh Thapa, who dragged the Jamshedpur defence to the left before squaring the ball to Apuia, who was lurking just outside the box.
“It was the perfect moment,” beamed Apuia. He had announced himself in 2021 with a stunning long-range goal. Last night, he did it again, showing exactly why Mohun Bagan invested heavily in him.
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