ISL 2026-27: Bagan surge as Bengaluru goal sparks controversy

Mohun Bagan have moved back to the top of the Indian Super League standings after winning four consecutive matches, while Bengaluru FC’s late winner against FC Goa has become the season’s first major refereeing controversy. Elsewhere, NorthEast United survived a difficult contest against Churchill Brothers thanks to clinical finishing.

Bagan began their campaign with a defeat to NorthEast United but have responded with four straight ISL wins. They are not yet described as being at their best and have continued to give opponents opportunities, but their ability to win matches has put them in a familiar position at the summit.

Lee Erwin and Dejan Drazic have each scored three times this season. Liston Colaco and Anirudh Thapa have also made important contributions at key moments, underlining the range of players involved in Bagan’s recovery after the opening-game loss.

Bagan find a way, while Bengaluru benefit from late error

Mohun Bagan’s win over Odisha came with a reminder that their performances still contain vulnerabilities. They allowed Odisha back into the game twice, with the second equaliser particularly avoidable. Mehtab Singh’s attempted clearance struck Abhishek Tekcham, allowing Everton Nascimento to curl a finish past Vishal Kaith.

However, Bagan recovered once again and created the opening for Erwin to score the winner. The result was another indication of a side that is not always controlling matches as fully as it would like, but is again producing decisive moments when they matter. With four wins in a row, their return to the top of the standings is a warning to the rest of the league.

Bengaluru FC’s victory over FC Goa was defined by a disputed sequence in the 93rd minute. The move that ended in the goal was well constructed: a throw-in deep in Bengaluru’s own half was worked into Ryan Williams in midfield, moved wide to Ashique Kuruniyan, and then slipped through to Soham Varshneya for a finish into the corner.

The problem was the throw-in that began the move. Ricky Meetei tackled KC Malsawmsanga in the box in what was described as a fair challenge, before Chinglensana Singh cleared the ball into touch. The restart should have been a Goa throw-in, but the officials did not award it. Goa players were also appealing for a penalty after the tackle, and referee Pratik Mondal may have been distracted, but the decision was not described as marginal or difficult.

The error had a major effect. Bengaluru’s 93rd-minute goal delivered the win and took their tally to five of 10 points earned from four games in the 90th minute or later. For FC Goa, the closing moments at the Fatorda brought a sequence that left the side feeling hard done by.

NorthEast take their chance against Churchill

NorthEast United also collected a win, but Churchill Brothers created more chances and the better chances. Churchill had four big opportunities through Angousana Luwang, Sebastián Gutiérrez, Dramane Salou and Wayde Lekay, yet could not convert them.

NorthEast did not create a comparable number of major openings, but they were clinical with the opportunities they had. Antonio Moyano scored in second-half stoppage time to seal the result, while Ethyan Gonzalez opened his ISL account earlier in the match.

Gonzalez’s goal came after he chipped the ball over Sayad Kadir. The finish should have been saved, but the goalkeeper was caught in no man’s land and the ball slipped into the net off his fingertips. It was a costly moment in a match Churchill had threatened to control through chance creation.

The latest ISL round therefore delivered contrasting messages: Mohun Bagan are building momentum at the top, Bengaluru FC are finding late points despite a controversial decision, and NorthEast United showed the value of taking the chances that arrive.