ISL: Punjab FC stuns Bengaluru FC with Effiong brace

Bengaluru FC suffered its first defeat of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season as Punjab FC secured a commanding 2-0 victory at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday. Nigerian striker Nsungusi Effiong proved unstoppable, scoring twice in the first half to hand Punjab its maiden win of the campaign.
Effiong’s physical presence and pace overwhelmed BFC’s defence, particularly Nikhil Poojari and K. Chinglensana. The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Effiong rose above his marker to head home Manglenthang Kipgen’s cross, beating goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu at the near post. Just minutes later, Punjab doubled its lead. A midfield lapse from BFC allowed Dani Ramirez to slip a precise pass to Effiong, who unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from the edge of the box past Sandhu.
Trailing by two goals, Bengaluru introduced Sunil Chhetri, Sirojiddin, and Haobam Meetei after the break in hopes of turning the tide. The substitutions improved cohesion and ball retention, but the home side struggled to break down Punjab’s disciplined defence.
The best chance for BFC came in the 59th minute when Chhetri, usually clinical, missed a golden opportunity in front of an open goal, leaving the home crowd stunned. That miss summed up Bengaluru’s night, as the team failed to capitalize on its second-half possession.
With this result, Punjab FC celebrated its first win in two matches, while Bengaluru FC was left to regroup after being physically and tactically outplayed.
Jamshedpur FC clinch late win over East Bengal
Jamshedpur FC secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against East Bengal FC in Kolkata, extending their winning streak to three matches in the ISL 2025-26 season. The Men of Steel also celebrated their first away win, highlighting resilience and attacking depth.
The visitors started brightly, with Messi Bouli’s early strike ruled offside and Vincy Barretto’s pace unsettling the hosts. Despite Jamshedpur’s dominance, East Bengal struck first in the 41st minute, forcing the visitors to regroup.
Defender Stephen Eze played a pivotal role after halftime, making crucial interventions before heading home the equaliser from a corner. His performance shifted momentum towards Jamshedpur, who pressed for a winner.
The decisive moment arrived in the 87th minute when substitute Rei Tachikawa curled a stunning shot into the top corner after a slick move involving Sanan Mohammed. Jamshedpur held firm through added time to seal the win.
With this result, Jamshedpur builds momentum ahead of their clash against Inter Kashi on March 6.