The 2026-27 Indian Super League opened with a round of close games. The biggest upset came in Guwahati on Monday, 12 October, where NorthEast United beat Mohun Bagan Super Giant 1–0. Jithin MS scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, after Vishal Kaith had made saves, and tapped in a rebound. NorthEast had only three shots on target, all within about ten seconds around the 91st minute. Mohun Bagan hit the woodwork twice, through Lee Erwin and Suhail Ahmed Bhat.
In Fatorda on Sunday evening, Churchill Brothers won 2–1 against Mumbai City FC on their ISL debut. Gaurav Bora scored early in the second half and Sebastian Gutierrez added a second in the 87th minute, before Sergio Llamas pulled one back for Mumbai in stoppage time. It was Manolo Marquez’s first game in charge of Mumbai City.
Bengaluru FC beat SC Delhi 3–2 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the most open game of the round. Borja Martinez scored twice, and Menno Koch, who had put through his own net for Delhi’s second goal, headed in a late winner from a Soham Varshneya cross. Rodriguinho also scored for Delhi. FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC drew 1–1, with Irfan Yadwad scoring for Chennaiyin and Christian Borrego equalising with a header for Goa.
Kerala Blasters won 0–2 away to Inter Kashi at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, with goals from Vibin Mohanan and Andre Green in stoppage time. Punjab FC beat Odisha FC 2–1 on 14 October. East Bengal did not play in the opening round because of their AFC Champions League Two commitments.
Business Standard reported that the league drew about 65 million YouTube views in its first week.
Sources: ESPN: ISL 2026/27 matchweek 1; Wikipedia: 2026-27 Indian Super League.
Featured image: The Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, home of NorthEast United (cropped). Photo by Angsh01, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Leave a Reply