Kolkata, March 5: East Bengal FC and FC Goa faced off in a goalless draw during the 22nd match of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday. This match marked the first scoreless draw between the two prominent Indian football teams from different corners of the country.
FC Goa temporarily sits in third place in the table with eight points from four matches, while the Red and Gold Brigade is just below them with seven points from the same number of games. Miguel Ferreira was named ‘Player of the Match’.
East Bengal’s head coach Oscar Bruzon made two changes to the starting eleven, introducing Mohammad Rakip and Naorem Mahesh Singh in place of Jai Gupta and Anton Sojberg. In contrast, FC Goa’s head coach Manolo Marquez made no changes to his lineup.
The visitors had their first glimpse of goal when Ishan Pandita sprinted behind the defenders to meet a lobbed pass from Dejan Dragić, but center-back Anwar Ali made a crucial recovery tackle to deny the striker a shot. East Bengal then took control of the midfield while Goa prepared for counterattacks.
The first significant opportunity for East Bengal came 15 minutes into the match when Naorem Mahesh Singh delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Bipin Singh on the left wing. The winger provided an accurate cross for an unmarked Yusuf Ajezari, but the striker’s attempt went over the crossbar.
On the other end, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill skillfully saved a shot from Brison Fernandes as the visitors broke through the defense with a brilliant move involving Ayush Dev Chhetri and Boris Singh. Shortly after, Boris’s shot with his right foot hit the post.
The home team also came close to scoring when Mohammad Rashid unleashed a powerful shot from distance that struck the crossbar. Despite several attempts at goal, both teams remained level at 0–0 by halftime.
The second half was played cautiously, with both teams strengthening their defensive lines, making it difficult for attacking players to create goal-scoring opportunities. Both coaches made some substitutions, but it did not significantly alter the course of the game.
FC Goa came closest to scoring when Abdul Rabih passed to fellow substitute Reinier Fernandes at the edge of the box. However, the midfielder’s right-footed shot sailed over the crossbar.
In the end, both teams had to settle for a point each. East Bengal tried to apply pressure during injury time, but FC Goa held firm, and the match concluded in a 0–0 draw. This was the first match between the two teams that ended without a result.
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RSG
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Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
