Dejan Drazic and Irfan Yadwad lead ISL 2026-27 Team of the Week after Matchweek 5
Dejan Drazic and Irfan Yadwad headlined the Indian Super League 2026-27 Team of the Week following matchweek 5, with key performances across fixtures at venues including the Salt Lake Stadium and Fatorda.
The ISL season has completed five weeks of action after kicking off shortly following India’s friendlies against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay, and will now pause for the November international window; during that break the Blue Tigers will face New Zealand twice and compete in the 2026 SAFF Championship. Matchweek 5 featured only ten teams, with Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters FC and Punjab FC not in action, and marked East Bengal’s return after their involvement in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two and an absence the previous week.
NorthEast United extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 2-0 win over Churchill Brothers SC, Mohun Bagan edged Odisha FC 3-2 at the Salt Lake Stadium, Bengaluru FC beat FC Goa 2-1 in a match at Fatorda that produced controversy over the referee, Sporting Club Delhi defeated Inter Kashi FC 3-0 and Chennaiyin FC prevailed 5-3 against East Bengal in an eight-goal encounter in which Brison Fernandes and Irfan Yadwad each scored a brace. Mohun Bagan SG lead the standings with 12 points from five matches, with NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC close behind; Bengaluru have a game in hand. Two teams remained unbeaten at the end of matchweek 5 while three clubs were yet to register a win.
With 21 goals across five games, the Team of the Week selection favoured an attacking setup. Goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari stood out for Odisha FC despite the 3-2 defeat to Mohun Bagan, making nine saves — five from close range — and earning a call-up to the Indian national team; his interventions prevented a larger first-half deficit and included stops from Erwin, Drazic, Liston and Manvir.
At the back, Pramveer Singh featured after a strong start to his spell at NorthEast United, contributing to a defensive run that includes three clean sheets in five games and no match in which the club conceded more than once; Pramveer made 11 clearances, three recoveries, won five duels and registered one tackle. Sporting Club Delhi pair Duvan Viafra and Clarence were included after helping secure SC Delhi’s first clean sheet of the season: Viafra won all his tackles and duels, created one key chance, made five recoveries and four clearances and produced blocks and interceptions inside his six-yard box, while Clarence made nine clearances, won five duels, registered several interceptions and blocks, was not dribbled past, completed 12 carries and five long balls.
In midfield and creative areas, Brison Fernandes produced a decisive display for Chennaiyin in the 5-3 win over East Bengal, scoring a brace, winning the penalty that led to the third goal, completing a number of dribbles and putting all four of his shots on target. Antonio Moyano scored his second goal of the season and registered his third goal contribution for NorthEast United against Churchill Brothers, creating chances, winning all his tackles and ground duels and making two recoveries; his goal came from a curling effort that secured the win. Anirudh Thapa returned to the starting XI under Panagiotis Dilmperis in the absence of Sahal and Apuia, provided the assist for Dejan Drazic’s opening goal, created four additional key chances, recorded 90% passing accuracy, completed all his long balls and made five recoveries, three clearances and a crucial block.
Up front, Irfan Yadwad scored a brace and assisted Brison’s opener for Chennaiyin and is the top Indian goalscorer in the 2026-27 ISL with three goals. Dejan Drazic has scored three goals in his last two matches for FC Goa and against Odisha registered three shots on target, created six key chances and scored twice — first finishing from space after a pass from Thapa and later with a tap-in — while also making seven recoveries, winning three ground duels and completing six progressive carries. Dani Ramírez, despite East Bengal’s 5-3 defeat, registered a goal and an assist, created four key chances, completed two dribbles and converted a penalty after Saheef conceded; he capitalised on Ayush Chhetri’s mistake for East Bengal’s first goal by winning the ball back and releasing Ake Loba. Rodriguinho played a key role for SC Delhi’s three goals, providing the cross for the opener that set up Fortes, creating three key chances, registering five shots and scoring late after a defensive error by Nishchal Chandan presented a simple scoring opportunity.
The week also saw the season’s first managerial departure, with Manolo Márquez and Mumbai City FC agreeing to terminate the Spaniard’s contract. The Indian Super League will now enter the November international window while clubs and international players prepare for the confirmed fixtures for the Blue Tigers against New Zealand and their participation in the 2026 SAFF Championship.