ISL 2025/26: FC Goa hold 10-men Punjab to a 1-1 draw away from home | Football News

Punjab FC were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Monday after a dramatic encounter that saw the hosts dominate the first half before a red card shifted the momentum in favour of the visitors.

Punjab began the match on the front foot while Goa appeared content to sit back and defend, struggling to penetrate the home side’s penalty area. The hosts created the first real opportunity inside the opening 15 minutes when a cross from the left flank found striker Luka Majcen Effiong, but the Nigerian forward could not convert the chance.

Punjab’s persistent pressure finally paid off in the 27th minute. Midfielder Kipgen delivered a perfectly weighted through ball into the box for Effiong, who showed great composure to lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper with his left foot and guide it towards the far post to give the hosts a deserved lead.

 
Red card changed the game for the hosts
 

The game took a dramatic turn shortly after the restart. Punjab suffered a major setback in the 48th minute when Effiong was sent off following a heated altercation with an FC Goa player, leaving the hosts with ten men for the remainder of the match.

Goa quickly capitalised on the numerical advantage. Their equaliser came through Drazic, who finished off a well-worked move with a clever outside-of-the-boot strike that curled into the left corner to level the score at 1–1.

With the momentum now on their side, Goa pushed forward relentlessly and kept Punjab’s defence under constant pressure for the remainder of the match. Despite the late push, neither side could find a winner.

In the end, it felt like two points dropped for head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis and his men, who would be disappointed not to secure all three points after such a strong start.