Kolkata, March 7 – Goals from Ryan Williams and Ashique Kuruniyan in the first half gave Bengaluru FC a 2-1 victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26, at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK) in Kolkata on Saturday. Mahitosh Roy reduced the deficit for the home side in the second half, but it was ultimately not enough.
The win moved Bengaluru to fifth place in the table with seven points, while Mohammedan remained searching for their first points in the campaign after their fourth consecutive defeat.
The two sides entered the match after losing 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 started 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 on the bench.
Bengaluru dominated after the kick-off, and a series of attacks saw Chhetri miss the target three times in the first 10 minutes. Ryan Williams was also putting in hard work, particularly from the right, but ironically, he found the back of the net from the left.
Soon after being denied by the Mohammedan defence, Williams tapped in from close range, off the resulting corner taken by Kuziev, which was headed towards goal by Chhetri and took a fortuitous deflection off Nikhil Poojary onto his path.
The second goal came after an attack from the right by Poojary this time. The cross was cleared away by Mohammedan goalkeeper Padam Chettri, but the loose ball was directed towards Ashique by Fanai, whose powerful left-foot shot from the top of the box went in after hitting the keeper's gloves.
Down by two at the break, Wadoo made a double substitution, bringing in the experienced Hira Mondal in place of Sajad Parray at left back and bringing in Lalngaihsaka in place of Ragui.
They got immediate results as the skilful Adison floated in a cross from the right, which was initially headed out by Bheke, but only as far as Mahitosh Roy, lurking for the second ball. The attacking midfielder’s well-placed right-foot shot beat Gurpreet on the dive and went in.
Mohammedan then upped the ante, and two shots, particularly by Thankima, almost brought them level. The first in the 65th minute beat the experienced Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and hit the crossbar, while the second 20 minutes later was on target, but the ace goalkeeper made a match-winning save to thwart the talented youngster.
The hosts did find the back of the net in the final minute of added time, when Fardeen poked in from a melee close to the goalmouth, but the referee had already blown for infringement, sealing a much-needed win for the visitors.
