New Delhi, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab FC continued their unbeaten start to the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season after substitute Gurkirat Singh scored a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw against Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
Mumbai City took the lead through Leandro Otormín’s 65th-minute penalty, but Punjab’s sustained attacking pressure paid off late in the game when Sanathoi Meetei delivered a pinpoint cross from the left for Gurkirat to head home.
The result lifted Punjab FC to third place in the standings with four points from two matches, following their opening-match victory over Odisha FC.
Punjab began brightly, with Rishikanta Meitei testing Mumbai goalkeeper Rehenesh T.P. with a long-range effort in the fourth minute. Mumbai responded through Brandon Fernandes, whose attempt from outside the box in the 22nd minute was kept out by a diving save from Punjab goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh.
The hosts created a promising opportunity just before half-time when Khaiminthang Lhungdim curled a left-footed effort towards the top-right corner, only for the ball to strike the crossbar.
Punjab were forced into an early substitution in the 36th minute after Rishikanta Meitei picked up an injury, with Bishu Sharma coming on in his place. The teams went into the break goalless despite opportunities at both ends.
Mumbai increased the pressure after the restart, while Punjab looked for openings through their attacking combinations. The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Noufal P.N. advanced down the left and drew a challenge from Bijoy Varghese, who slipped during the attempt to stop him. The referee awarded a penalty, which Otormín converted two minutes later with a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.
Punjab pushed forward in search of a response, with Arshdeep keeping his side in contention by saving Akash Mishra’s header in the 74th minute.
Sanathoi Meetei continued to trouble Mumbai’s defence, and after coming close with a header in the 87th minute, he delivered the decisive cross three minutes later. Gurkirat rose inside the box and powered his header into the top-left corner to level the score.
Punjab pressed again in stoppage time, but Mumbai goalkeeper Rehenesh denied Raphaël Messi Bouli’s effort in the 92nd minute.
The draw ensured Punjab FC maintained their unbeaten run, with Gurkirat’s late intervention earning the Shers another valuable result.
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