ISL 2026-27: Bengaluru FC snatch dramatic win in season opener

When the whistle blew on Saturday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, nobody could have guessed just how much drama would unfold in the opening match of the ISL 2026‑27 season. Bengaluru FC took the initiative straight away, using the speed of wing‑backs Ryan Williams and Ashique Kuruniyan to stretch the SC Delhi defence.

That gamble paid off in the 22nd minute. Fresh‑face Borja Martínez curled a left‑footed strike from the edge of the box into the bottom‑left corner, a beautiful finish set up by Williams. The early lead gave the hosts a boost, but it was short‑lived.

SC Delhi answered almost instantly. Midfielder Hnamte roamed into the final third, nudging a pass to Rodriguinho, who slotted home a right‑footed finish just four minutes later. The visitors had levelled, and the momentum seemed to swing their way.

Just eight minutes after that, the game took a twist. Juan Pena’s darting run into the box produced a dangerous cross, and in a moment of misfortune, Bengaluru defender Menno Koch redirected it into his own net. The own‑goal handed Delhi a 2‑1 advantage heading into the break – a sting for the Dutch‑born defender who had just made his debut.

The second half started with Bengaluru searching for answers. Persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Martínez, still buzzing from his first goal, curled another left‑footed shot from the left side of the area, this time finding the centre of the net after a perfect pass from Mihail Perović. The scores were level at 2‑2, and the atmosphere turned electric.

Coach’s decision to introduce young midfielder Soham Varshneya proved decisive. The substitute injected fresh energy, linking up quickly with the attack. In the 89th minute, Varshneya whipped in a pinpoint cross that found Koch, who rose above the crowd and headed home a winner that would feel like sweet redemption after his earlier mishap.

The final whistle confirmed a 3‑2 victory for Bengaluru FC, a comeback that earned them all three points in a match that had everything – early dominance, an own‑goal, a dramatic equaliser, and a last‑minute heroics. SC Delhi can take heart from a spirited performance, but the hosts showed the kind of resilience that often defines champions.