New Delhi, March 17: In a thrilling encounter in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26, Punjab FC managed to secure a 1-1 draw against FC Goa on Monday, despite being reduced to 10 players. The match took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, allowing FC Goa to maintain their unbeaten streak. With this result, FC Goa climbed to fourth place in the points table with nine points, while Punjab FC sits in eighth with five points. Dejan Dragić from FC Goa was named ‘Player of the Match’.
Punjab FC started strong, maintaining possession early on and applying pressure from both flanks. Left-back Muhammad Uwais delivered several dangerous crosses, and in the 15th minute, the home team took their first shot on goal. Uwais headed a corner kick from Dani Ramírez, but FC Goa’s goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari safely caught the ball.
Punjab continued to control the pace of the match, which paid off in the 27th minute. A move initiated from midfield saw the ball reach Manglenthang Kipgen, who delivered an accurate through-ball to Nsungusi Junior Efioung. The striker displayed remarkable composure, curling the ball into the top corner with his left foot, giving Punjab the lead.
As the first half progressed, Punjab maintained their pressure. In the 37th minute, Ramírez tested Tiwari with a long-range shot, and shortly after, Nsungusi Junior’s attempt was easily saved by the goalkeeper. Kipgen also tried his luck from distance, but his shot missed the target. FC Goa struggled to clear their defensive line for most of the half, but in stoppage time, they came close to equalizing. Sandesh Jhingan headed Dragić’s cross just wide, and shortly after, Pol Moreno missed a scoring opportunity.
The second half took a dramatic turn just three minutes in. Punjab was reduced to 10 men when Nsungusi Junior received a red card. FC Goa quickly capitalized on this advantage. In the 53rd minute, Brison Fernandes maneuvered in midfield and passed the ball to Dragić. The latter unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, finding the lower corner of the net to level the score at 1-1. Goa continued to press for more goals. In the 60th minute, Udanta Singh’s header from a corner went just over the bar, and shortly after, Dragić missed an easy header from a superb cross.
In the 71st minute, Punjab’s substitute striker Bede Osuji created a chance inside the box for Kipgen, but the midfielder’s shot lacked power, allowing Tiwari to make an easy save. In the closing moments of the match, Goa sought a winning goal. In the 79th minute, Arshdeep Singh saved a header from Mohammad Yasir, while both Reinier Fernandes and Dragić missed late scoring opportunities. Punjab held firm in stoppage time, with Arshdeep safely catching Brison Fernandes’ final shot.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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