ISL 2025-26: 10-man Punjab hold FC Goa to 1-1 draw at home

A 10man Punjab FC side produced a resilient performance to hold FC Goa to a 11 draw in the Indian Super League ISL 202526 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Monday The result saw FC Goa extend their unbeaten run and move to fourth in the standings with nine points while Punjab FC sit eighth with five points FC Goarsquos Dejan Drai was adjudged Player of the MatchHowever the Goan side faced a tough challenge and survived thanks to a goal by Dejan Drai as Punjab led the game till the 53rd minute after Nsungusi Jr Effiong scored in the 27th minute in the key encounterPunjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis made two changes in midfield bringing in Leon Augustine for the injured Nikhil Prabhu and Samir Zeljkovi in place of Bede Osuji FC Goa head coach Manolo Maacuterquez named an unchanged starting XIPunjab started the match strongly controlling possession and creating early pressure down the flanks The leftback Muhammed Uvais delivered a series of dangerous crosses and the hosts created the first shot on target in the 15th minute when Dani Ramiacuterezrsquos corner found Uvais whose header was safely collected by FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik TiwariThe Shers continued to dictate the tempo and were rewarded in the 27th minute A move initiated in midfield found Manglenthang Kipgen who threaded a precise through ball to Nsungusi Jr Effiong The striker showed composure with his first touch curling a leftfooted effort into the top corner to give Punjab the leadPunjab kept up the pressure in the closing stages of the first half Ramiacuterez tested Tiwari with a longrange effort in the 37th minute while Nsungusi Jrrsquos attempt a moment later was gathered comfortably by the goalkeeper Kipgen too tried his luck from a distance but failed to keep his effort on targetFC Goa struggled to clear their lines for much of the half but came close to equalising in stoppage time Sandesh Jhingan headed narrowly wide from a Drai cross while Pol Moreno missed the target shortly after Punjab nearly conceded an own goal when a header from Uvais struck the woodwork but the hosts managed to maintain their advantage heading into the breakThe 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 Jr was shown a straight red card FC Goa capitalised on the numerical advantage soon after In the 53rd minute Brison Fernandes turned in midfield before laying the ball off to Drai who struck a rightfooter from outside the box into the bottom corner to bring the visitors level at 11 Goa continued to push forward with Udanta Singh heading narrowly over from a corner in the 60th minute and Drai missing a free header moments later after a welldelivered cross from the rightIn the 71st minute Punjab substitute striker Bede Osuji set up Kipgen inside the box but the midfielderrsquos effort lacked power and was comfortably gathered by TiwariGoa continued to search for a winner in the closing stages Mohammad Yasirrsquos header was saved by Arshdeep Singh in the 79th minute while Raynier Fernandes and Drai both missed the target with late attempts Punjab defended resolutely in stoppage time with Arshdeep safely gathering a final effort from Brison FernandesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever