Late Goals Secure Thrilling ISL Victories for Mohun Bagan and Punjab FC

The Indian Super League witnessed dramatic finishes as Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Punjab FC both secured hard-fought victories courtesy of decisive goals deep into the matches.

At the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, Mohun Bagan earned their first home win of the season by defeating Chennaiyin FC 1-0. The deadlock was broken in the 86th minute when Liston Colaco delivered a precise cross from the left flank, allowing Manvir Singh to expertly finish from close range and send the home supporters into celebration.

The encounter was tightly contested, with Chennaiyin registering 25 shots compared to Mohun Bagan's 15. Chennaiyin came close to scoring earlier in the match when Nikola Stojanović struck the crossbar, while goalkeepers Mohammad Nawaz and Vishal Kaith made crucial saves to keep their respective teams in contention throughout the evening.

The victory elevates Mohun Bagan to fifth place in the standings after three matches, while Chennaiyin FC remains in eleventh place, left to regret missed opportunities in the final third despite creating numerous chances.

Meanwhile, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, Punjab FC triumphed in a five-goal thriller, defeating Churchill Brothers 3-2. Konsam Sanathoi Singh scored the match-winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to capture all three points for the visitors.

Punjab FC initially took the lead in the 13th minute when Raphaël Messi Bouli converted a penalty kick after being brought down inside the box by Gaurav Bora. Churchill Brothers fought back valiantly, with Sebastián Gutiérrez scoring twice before halftime to level the score twice following an intervening goal from Punjab's Alfred Planas Moya.

The second half continued at a frantic pace with both goalkeepers forced into action. As the match appeared headed for a draw, Messi Bouli chest-controlled a long ball, evaded two defenders, and laid off a precise pass to the 19-year-old Sanathoi Singh, who calmly slotted home the winning shot in the closing moments of stoppage time.

The dramatic late wins underscore the competitiveness and resilience on display early in the current Indian Super League campaign, as teams continue to fight intensely for crucial points.