Punjab FC beat Odisha FC 2-1 in New Delhi as Messi Bouli nets late winner in ISL 2026-27 opener
Punjab FC beat Odisha FC 2-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday in their Indian Super League 2026-27 opener, with Messi Bouli scoring in the opening minute and again in the 90+5th minute. The stoppage-time strike secured Punjab their first victory of the ISL 2026-27 season.
Punjab entered the match under coach Pavlos Dermitzakis, having reached the IFA Shield semi-finals before losing to Mohun Bagan on penalties. Odisha FC came into the fixture without a proper pre-season, placing added responsibility on veteran T. G. Purushothaman to produce results. The Shers began sharply when Muhammed Uvais delivered a cross that Messi Bouli converted with a right-footed finish into the bottom-right corner to give Punjab an immediate lead.
Odisha levelled in the 15th minute from a corner as Lalthathanga Khawlhring’s delivery met Thoiba Moirangthem, who headed into the bottom-right corner. Both teams fashioned chances in the remainder of the first half: Alfred Planas tested Odisha goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari, Mahmoud Eid missed from inside the box in the 18th minute, Ricky Shabong and Bijoy Varghese went close for Punjab, and Stephen Eze tried from distance in first-half stoppage time.
The second half began with Giorgi Aburjania sending an attempt from inside the box just over the crossbar in the 46th minute, and Messi Bouli missing a target in the 51st minute following a Planas cross. Planas lofted an effort over in the 56th minute, and Hrithik Tiwari produced a save to deny Diego Raposo two minutes later. Bijoy Varghese headed narrowly wide from Khaiminthang Lhungdim’s corner in the 61st minute.
Odisha introduced Éverton Nascimento and Lalrinfela Khiangte in the 64th minute as they sought control, and late in the match the Juggernauts threatened through set-pieces with Rahim Ali and Stephen Eze attempting headers around the 80th minute. Punjab goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh saved an effort from Mahmoud Eid from outside the box, while Vishal Yadav sent an effort wide in the 82nd minute. Substitute Gurkirat Singh was denied by Hrithik Tiwari in the 85th minute and Muhammed Uvais’s long-range attempt went narrowly wide in the 86th minute.
With five minutes of added time, Suhair VP sent an effort wide for Odisha before Arshdeep Singh saved Nihal Sudheesh’s attempt from outside the box in the 90+5th minute. Punjab countered immediately: Vishal Yadav set up Messi inside the box and the forward finished with his left foot to restore the lead and seal a 2-1 victory. Messi Bouli finished the match having scored both goals for Punjab.
The win delivered Punjab FC their first ISL 2026-27 victory in the season opener.
