ISL 2025-26: 10-man Punjab FC resiliently holds FC Goa to draw at home

A 10-man team from Punjab FC put in a resilient performance to hold FC Goa to a 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League 2025-26 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, March 16.

The result extended FC Goa’s unbeaten run and moved to fourth in the standings with nine points, while Punjab FC are eighth with five points. Lihat juga kshp. FC Goa’s Dejan Dražić was named Player of the Match.

Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilperis made two changes in midfield, with Leon Augustine brought on for the injured Nikhil Prabhu and Samir Zeljković in place of Bede Osuji. FC Goa head coach Manolo Márquez named an unchanged starting eleven.

Punjab started the match strongly, controlling possession and creating early pressure down the flanks. Left back Muhammed Uvais delivered a series of dangerous crosses, and the hosts created the first shot on target in the 15th minute when Dani Ramírez’s corner found Uvais, whose header was safely saved by FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari.

The Shers continued to dictate the pace and were rewarded in the 27th minute. A move in midfield found Manglenthang Kipgen, who threw a precise through ball to Effiong Nsungusi. The striker showed composure with his first touch and curled a left-footed effort into the top corner to give Punjab the lead.

Punjab kept up the pressure in the closing stages of the half. Ramírez tested Tiwari with a long-range effort in the 37th minute, while Nsungusi’s effort was comfortably collected by the goalkeeper moments later. Kipgen also tried his luck from distance, but failed to keep his shot on target.

FC Goa struggled to clear the lines for much of the half, but came close to the equalizer in injury time. Sandesh Jhingan headed narrowly wide from Dražić’s cross, while Pol Moreno shot wide of the target shortly afterwards. Punjab almost conceded an own goal when a Uvais header hit the woodwork, but the hosts managed to maintain their lead into the break.

The match took a dramatic turn early in the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, Punjab were reduced to ten men when goalscorer Nsungusi was shown a straight red card.

FC Goa took advantage of the numerical advantage shortly afterwards. In the 53rd minute, Brison Fernandes turned in midfield before laying the ball to Dražić, who struck a right-foot shot from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner to level the visitors at 1–1.

Goa continued to push forward, with Udanta Singh heading narrowly over from a corner in the 60th minute and Dražić missing a free header moments later after a well-executed cross from the right.

In the 71st minute, Punjab substitute Bede Osuji put Kipgen in the box but the midfielder’s effort lacked power and was comfortably collected by Tiwari.

Goa continued to look for a winner in the final stages. Mohammad Yasir’s header was saved by Arshdeep Singh in the 79th minute, while Raynier Fernandes and Dražić both missed the target with late attempts. Punjab defended resolutely in stoppage time, with Arshdeep safely collecting a last-gasp effort from Brison Fernandes.

Published on March 16, 2026