ISL 2025-26: FC Goa sees first win in the competition against ‘inexperienced’ Mohammedan Sporting

After being denied three points in the opening week, FC Goa will look to get the better of Mohammedan Sporting in their Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 on Friday.

Goa were held to a 1-1 draw at home by newly promoted Inter Kashi, with Dejan Drazic stealing a late point for the Gaurs.

However, against Mohammedan Sporting, the odds could be in Goa’s favor as the Calcutta team lost their opening match 0-1 to Jamshedpur FC and field an all-Indian squad with no national team regulars.

«We are a young and inexperienced team, which lacks a quality striker. However, we believe in these young players and tomorrow they will give the best of themselves,» said Mehrajuddin Wadoo, head coach of Mohammedan Sporting.

“We need to create more chances; the improvement needs to happen in the final third.”

Goa, on the other hand, won the Super Cup, the only tournament with continental ambitions so far this season, but have failed to maintain the momentum – something it will look to change this time around.

«It is important to remove the zero (wins) from the points table as soon as possible. We have a team that definitely needs to be competitive in all 13 matches,» Goa’s head coach Manlo Marquez said before the match.

«Maybe we have more quality, but we have to show this quality. If we want to win the match, we have to show it on the pitch.»

Mohammedan Sporting had held Goa to a 1-1 draw at home last season, and the Guard will be hoping the deadlock is broken sooner rather than later as the title chase intensifies.

The match will start at 7.30 pm at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Calcutta.

Published on February 20, 2026