Gurkeerats Last-Minute Header Secures Draw for Punjab FC Against Mumbai City FC
Punjab FC salvaged a point with a late goal from Gurkeerat Singh, ending their match against Mumbai City FC in a 1-1 draw.
New Delhi, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : In an exciting encounter at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 19, 2026, Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC battled to a 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27. The match saw Uruguayan striker Leandro Otormin put Mumbai City ahead with a penalty in the 63rd minute. However, Gurkeerat Singh, a former player for Mumbai, equalized for Punjab in the dying moments of the game, marking his first goal for the club.
From the outset, Punjab applied significant pressure, turning the match into a physical contest. The home team had their first opportunity in the fourth minute when Rishikant Maitei unleashed a shot from distance, which Mumbai’s goalkeeper TP Rehenesh expertly saved. Punjab continued to challenge their opponents with quick attacks, while the “Islanders” attempted to counter with swift breakaways and widen the play through their wingers.
Mumbai City was forced to make an early substitution after Vikram Pratap Singh sustained an injury following a tackle with Maitei, bringing Farukh Chaudhary onto the field. Shortly after, Brandon Fernandes came close to scoring, but goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh made a crucial save by rushing off his line.
In the 36th minute, Punjab made a substitution, introducing Bishu Singh for Maitei. Just before halftime, Punjab nearly scored when Khaiminthang Lungdihm’s long-range shot hit the post, leaving the score unchanged as both teams failed to convert their chances.
The second half began with Mumbai adopting a more aggressive approach. Walpuya provided a cross to Farukh, but he couldn’t direct his header on target. In the 55th minute, Punjab substituted young player Vishal Yadav for Gurkeerat Singh. A little over an hour into the match, Mumbai broke the deadlock when Bijoy Varghese’s foot caught PN Naufal’s ankle in the box, resulting in a penalty. Otormin converted the penalty with precision.
Just four minutes later, Mumbai made two changes, bringing on Tluanga for Brandon and Wilmar Jordan for Otormin. Punjab responded with substitutions of their own, introducing Santhoi Maitei and Arshveer Singh for Muhammad Suhail and Diego Raposo.
These changes quickly paid off for the home team. Santhoi delivered an accurate cross from the left side into the box, where Gurkeerat, completely unmarked, leaped to head the ball into the net. This goal not only marked his first for Punjab but also secured a vital point for the home side against his former club.
