ISL 2026-27: Mohun Bagan beat Punjab FC 2-1 with Erwin, Dražić strikes
Synopsis
Mohun Bagan Super Giant came from a goal down to beat Punjab FC 2-1 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, with Lee Erwin and Dejan Dražić both scoring in the first half. The win ended Punjab FC's unbeaten start and sent the Mariners to the top of the ISL 2026-27 table with nine points from four matches.
Key Takeaways
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Punjab FC 2-1 in Match 21 of the ISL 2026-27 season on 31 October at Kolkata .
Alfred Planas Moya gave Punjab FC an early lead in the 3rd minute .
Lee Erwin equalised in the 18th minute before Dejan Dražić scored the winner in the 42nd minute .
Sahal Abdul Samad went off injured in the 12th minute ; Anirudh Thapa replaced him and provided the assist for Erwin's goal.
Punjab FC's unbeaten run ended; they drop to 4th with 7 points from 4 matches .
Mohun Bagan move temporarily to the top of the table with 9 points from 4 matches .
Mohun Bagan Super Giant staged a composed comeback at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 31 October, defeating Punjab FC 2-1 in Match 21 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season. Goals from Lee Erwin and Dejan Dražić — both arriving in the first half — overturned an early deficit and handed the Mariners a crucial three points.
Punjab FC Strike First, Mohun Bagan Hit Back
The visitors drew first blood as early as the third minute, when Sanathoi Meetei released Alfred Planas Moya outside the penalty area and the midfielder's right-footed strike beat a diving Vishal Kaith to put Punjab FC ahead. The early goal threatened to unsettle the hosts, but Mohun Bagan pressed on despite losing Sahal Abdul Samad to injury in the 12th minute — Anirudh Thapa coming on as his replacement.
The equaliser arrived in the 18th minute. Thapa, fresh off the bench, picked out Erwin on the left side of the box, and the striker finished clinically with his left foot into the bottom-right corner. It was a sharp, purposeful response that reset the contest.
Dražić Seals It Before the Break
Mohun Bagan continued to build pressure through the first half. Rahul Bheke came close with a header from a Dražić corner in the 22nd minute, though it went narrowly wide. The go-ahead goal came in the 42nd minute: Erwin turned provider, teeing up Dražić outside the penalty area, and the midfielder dispatched a right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-1. Punjab goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh kept his side in contention with saves from Samir Zeljković and Erwin, but Mohun Bagan went into the interval with the advantage intact.
Punjab FC Push Hard, Mariners Hold Firm
The second half saw Punjab FC press for a way back. Thapa tested the visitors with a long-range effort in the 49th minute, while Deepak Tangri sent a shot narrowly wide following a corner in the 62nd minute. Planas tested Kaith from the centre of the box in the 75th minute, and substitute Liston Colaço also threatened at the other end. Tangri went close again in the 87th minute, but Panos Dilmperis' side held their nerve through eight minutes of added time to see out the win.
Table Implications
The result ended Punjab FC's unbeaten start to the ISL 2026-27 campaign, dropping them to fourth place with seven points from four matches. Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, moved temporarily to the top of the table with nine points from the same number of games — a significant early-season statement from the former champions. With the league still in its early stages, the Mariners' ability to grind out results from behind will be a key test of their title credentials as the season progresses.
Point of View
However, is the ease with which Punjab FC carved them open in the third minute; if better-organised sides exploit that early defensive vulnerability, the Mariners could be punished. Punjab FC, for their part, were arguably the better team for stretches and will rue a lack of cutting edge in the second half. Nine points from four games is a healthy return, but Mohun Bagan's title credentials will be tested far more severely when they face sides with comparable firepower.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Mohun Bagan vs Punjab FC in ISL 2026-27?
Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat Punjab FC 2-1 in Match 21 of the ISL 2026-27 season on 31 October at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Lee Erwin and Dejan Dražić scored for the hosts after Alfred Planas Moya had given Punjab FC an early lead.
Who scored for Mohun Bagan against Punjab FC?
Lee Erwin scored in the 18th minute and Dejan Dražić added a second in the 42nd minute to give Mohun Bagan Super Giant a 2-1 victory. Both goals came in the first half after Anirudh Thapa's introduction from the bench proved pivotal.
Where does Mohun Bagan stand in the ISL 2026-27 table after this win?
Mohun Bagan Super Giant moved temporarily to the top of the ISL 2026-27 standings with nine points from four matches following the win over Punjab FC. Punjab FC, meanwhile, dropped to fourth place with seven points from four games.
Why did Sahal Abdul Samad go off during the match?
Sahal Abdul Samad was forced off with an injury in the 12th minute of the match against Punjab FC. He was replaced by Anirudh Thapa, who went on to assist Lee Erwin's equaliser just minutes later.
Was this Punjab FC's first defeat of the ISL 2026-27 season?
Yes, the 2-1 loss to Mohun Bagan Super Giant ended Punjab FC's unbeaten start to the ISL 2026-27 season. They had accumulated seven points from their first three matches before this result.
