Bengaluru FC recorded another win the Indian Super League on Saturday. First half strikes by Ryan Williams and Ashique Kuruniyan gave visitors a commanding 2-1 win over Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK). Mahitosh Roy reduced the deficit for the home side in the second half.
The win moved The Blues up to fifth on the table with seven points, while Mohammedan were left searching for their first points from the campaign, after a fourth consecutive defeat.
The two sides went into the match after defeats in their previous encounters and both Indian head coaches, Renedy Singh of Bengaluru and Mehrajuddin Wadoo of Mohammedan Sporting, made three changes each to their respective starting lineups.
Mohammedan began with Lalmuanawma in place of Hira Mondal at right back, Tangva Ragui back in midfield in place of Lalngaihsaka and Israfil Dewan alongside Adison upfront, in place of Lalremsanga Fanai. Renedy started the experienced Rahul Bheke at the back, handed Uzbek Siroj Kuziev a debut in midfield and paired talisman Sunil Chhetri in attack with Ryan Williams in place of Bungson, Suresh and Sivasakthi, who were benched.
Bengaluru were the dominant side post kick-off and a wave of attacks saw Chhetri miss the target thrice tin the first 10 minutes. Ryan Williams was also putting in the hard yards, particularly from the right, but found his reward ironically from the left.
First win of season for Chennaiyin
Chennaiyin FC dished out a dominating performance to pocket full points against hosts Kerala Blasters with a solitary goal win at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
Midfielder Imran Khan’s 42nd-minute strike proved to be the clincher as Chennaiyin moved up on the table with four points on the board.
Gokulam draw
Gokulam Kerala FC and Namdhari Sports Academy played out a 1-1 draw in Indian Football League (IFL) 2025-26 at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri on Saturday. Thabiso Nelson Brown gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute, which was cancelled out by a 73rd minute strike by Seilenthang Lotjem as both teams played out their second consecutive draw this season.
Gokulam Kerala head coach Derick Pereira made two alterations to his starting line-up, bringing Thabiso Nelson Brown and Aman CK into the attack in place of Rahul Raju and John Kennedy Xavier Da Costa. Namdhari gaffer Harpreet Singh also shuffled his pack, handing Niraj Kumar a start in goal ahead of Nishan Singh, while Karan Kumar Sharma slotted into the defence to replace Balkaran Singh.