Kolkata, March 5 (NationPress) In a thrilling encounter that concluded without goals, East Bengal FC and FC Goa faced off in Match 22 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday. This marked the first instance of a goalless draw between these two prominent teams from opposite ends of India.

The Gaurs currently hold the provisional third spot in the league standings with eight points accrued from four matches, while The Red and Gold Brigade is just behind them with seven points from the same number of games. Miguel Ferreira was named the Player of the Match for his performance.

In preparation for the match, Oscar Bruzon made two significant alterations to the East Bengal starting lineup, giving first starts of the season to Mohamad Rakip and Naorem Mahesh Singh, replacing Jay Gupta and Anton Sojberg. Meanwhile, FC Goa's coach Manolo Márquez opted to stick with an unchanged lineup.

The match kicked off with the visitors having the initial opportunity at goal when Ishan Pandita made a run behind the defenders to connect with a lobbed pass from Dejan Dražić. However, centre-back Anwar Ali made a vital tackle to prevent a shot from the striker. East Bengal then dominated possession in midfield, while Goa settled into a counterattacking strategy.

The first real chance came for East Bengal around the 15-minute mark, as Naorem Mahesh Singh sent a perfectly timed pass to Bipin Singh on the left flank. The winger provided an accurate cross into the box for Youssef Ezzejjari, who, despite being unmarked, failed to convert the opportunity, sending his shot over the crossbar.

At the other end, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill made a fantastic save against Brison Fernandes' shot after the visitors orchestrated a slick move involving Ayush Dev Chhetri and Boris Singh. Shortly afterward, a right-footed effort from Boris struck the post, marking Goa's most threatening phase of attack in the first half.

The home team also came close to breaking the deadlock when Mohamad Rashid rattled the crossbar with a long-range attempt that slipped through the goalkeeper's grasp. Despite numerous attempts, both teams headed into half-time with the scoreline locked at 0–0.

The second half proved to be a tense battle, with chances becoming scarce as both teams fortified their defenses, complicating the attackers' efforts to create scoring opportunities. Substitutions were made by both coaches, yet neither team could shift their approach significantly.

FC Goa nearly found the back of the net when Abdul Rabeeh set up substitute Raynier Fernandes at the edge of the box, but the midfielder's shot sailed over the bar.

Ultimately, both sides settled for a share of the points. East Bengal pressed hard in injury time, yet FC Goa maintained their composure, ensuring this match concluded with the historic first stalemate between the two teams.