Bengaluru FC vs SC Delhi Player Ratings: Borja Martínez, Ryan Williams shine in ISL 2026-27 opener
The Blues win the ISL 2026-27 opener.
The ISL 2026-27 season kicked off in style with a five-goal thriller where Bengaluru FC managed to get an inspiring 3-2 win over SC Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Both sides looked at their absolute best throughout the match and provided everyone a brilliant brand of football. The game was nothing short of entertaining as it first saw SC Delhi stage a first half comeback before Bengaluru FC turned the game around once again snatching a dramatic 3-2 victory in the 89th minute.
In this article we will take a look at the player ratings from the ISL 2026-27 opener between Bengaluru FC and SC Delhi.
Bengaluru FC Player Ratings (By Jeremy)
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Gurpreet Singh Sandhu – 7/10
Gurpreet conceded twice, but one was an own goal that he couldn’t influence and the other came from SC Delhi’s best moment of the game as Rodriguinho opened the scoresheet slotting past a clean goal.
Barring that, he held the back line steady while the midfield was being overloaded by Delhi, and he was rarely the problem as Bengaluru recovered.
Shivaldo – 7.5/10
One of the players who gave the Blues width from deep, which is exactly what the second-half plan needed. His support behind the wingers made Delhi’s midfield overload a liability.
Menno Koch – 7/10
An own goal and a winner in one night. The first went on the board against Menno, the second cancelled it, and the score is why his rating isn’t lower.
Defensive concentration against much better opponents will be the follow-up question.
Chinglensana Singh – 7/10
Chinglensana was part of a defence that was pulled around by SC Delhi’s midfield in the first half. He held together better once the Blues had control of the ball. No error stands out, but no decisive intervention either.
Roshan Singh Naorem – 6.5/10
Not a great night when the defence was tested more than it would have liked.
The ball that resulted in Koch’s own goal was played past him by Juan Peña. Roshan’s attacking contributions also were not up to the mark. He gets a passing mark for the way the back line recovered after half-time.
Suresh Singh Wangjam – 7/10
Suresh had the hardest job early, in the congested midfield SC Delhi created. His holding work let the wide man get on with their game, and the plan only worked because the midfield stayed in shape.
Lalremtluanga Fanai – 7.5/10
A support player in the best sense, feeding the flanks and keeping the width alive when Bengaluru needed it. Fanai’s work is the kind that doesn’t show up as a goal but shows up as the reason the goals came.
Borja Martinez – 9.5/10
Photo: Baranidharan M / FS MEDIA PRO / ISL
Two goals, the first and the equaliser, plus the wide threat that turned the second half. Borja opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and levelled it in the 75th and was the most dangerous player on the pitch on both occasions.
One of the best signings the Blues have made this summer. The presence of Borja will be instrumental for Bengaluru in the coming games.
Ryan Williams – 8.5/10
The right wing, and the other reason SC Delhi’s midfield trap stopped working. Together with Borja, Ryan pulled Delhi’s shape apart, forcing them wide and exposing the centre they’d worked so hard to protect.
Mihailo Perović – 7/10
Unlucky not to score, and his presence as a target man gave Bengaluru a focal point. Mihailo assisted for the equalizer scored by Borja Martinez and the rating would be higher with a goal.
Ashique Kuruniyan – 6.5/10
Part of the wide attacking structure that eventually paid off. A steady rather than spectacular showing in a game where the headline numbers went to others.
Substitutes
Soham Varshneya – 7.5/10
Extra legs and a fresh angle on the flanks as Bengaluru pushed for the turnaround. Soham brought energy to the same wide plan that was already working and also assisted for the winning goal that came from Koch, which is what you want from a substitute.
Manuel de Iriondo – 7/10
Came on in a game that was already being decided on the edges. A composed contribution from the Argentine, as he helped the Blues have a better control in an overloaded midfield.
Nikhil Poojary – N/A
Nikhil came on in the added time of the match, and didn’t have much of an impact.
SC Delhi Player Ratings (By Preethi)
Nora Fernandes — 6.4/10
Nora Fernandes had a mixed outing against Bengaluru FC, conceding three goals but also making a couple of important saves to keep SC Delhi in the contest.
His distribution was another positive, as he showed composure in playing the ball out from the back and helping his side build possession
Manoj Mohammad — 6.0/10
Manoj Mohammad put in a decent shift on the left side of the defence, contributing with tackles and clearances to deal with Bengaluru FC’s attacking threat.
However, SC Delhi were unable to prevent the hosts from scoring three goals. Manoj also received a yellow card during the match.
Viáfara — 6/10
Viáfara contributed with tackles and clearances as SC Delhi attempted to contain Bengaluru FC’s attacking threat.
However, the visitors struggled to maintain defensive solidity across the contest, ultimately conceding three goals.
Nduka Junior — 7/10
Nduka Junior contributed defensively with tackles and clearances, working to limit Bengaluru FC’s attacking opportunities.
While SC Delhi showed moments of resistance, the visitors ultimately struggled to maintain their defensive shape throughout the contest.
Lamgoulen Gou Hangshing (Gogou) — 6/10
The SC Delhi captain put in a committed shift at the back, contributing with tackles and clearances as his side attempted to contain Bengaluru FC’s attacking threat.
Despite his defensive efforts and leadership, SC Delhi conceded three goals and were unable to secure a positive result.
Lalrinliana Hnamte — 8/10
Hnamte was one of SC Delhi’s standout performers against Bengaluru FC, combining his dribbling ability with creative intent in the final third.
He repeatedly looked to take on opponents, beat his markers and create chances for his teammates. His work in duels also stood out, allowing him to compete effectively in midfield and contribute to his side’s attacking transitions.
Despite SC Delhi’s 3-2 defeat, Hnamte’s ability to carry the ball forward and create opportunities made him one of the team’s most encouraging performers
Mohammed Azhar — 6.5/10
Azhar showed good intensity in midfield, competing well in duels and putting himself about to challenge Bengaluru FC’s players.
However, his tendency to lose possession proved to be a drawback, limiting his ability to help SC Delhi maintain control and build attacks consistently.
Sanatomba Singh — 7.0/10
Sanatomba Singh put in a solid shift on the right flank, doing well to contain Bengaluru FC’s attacking threat down that side.
His defensive positioning and work rate helped SC Delhi deal with the hosts’ wide attacks, making him a dependable presence on the flank. His performance was a positive for SC Delhi
Juan Peña — 7/10
Peña made some excellent runs to threaten Bengaluru FC’s defence, finding spaces and looking to get into promising attacking positions.
However, he was unable to convert those opportunities into goals, leaving SC Delhi without the attacking reward his movement deserved.
His ability to make dangerous runs was encouraging, but more composure and clinical finishing in the final third could have made the difference.
Rodriguinho — 8/10
Rodriguinho once again delivered an impressive performance, showcasing his quality and determination throughout the contest.
What stood out was his response after SC Delhi conceded, as he continued to push forward and remained committed to the team’s attacking efforts rather than letting the setback affect his game.
His persistence and technical ability made him one of SC Delhi’s standout performers, and his display was a major positive despite the 3-2 defeat.
Mohammed Aimen — 6/10
Aimen had a challenging outing against Bengaluru FC, with the opposition frequently man-marking him and limiting his freedom in attack.
While the close attention he received made it difficult for him to influence the game consistently, he could have done more to find space, involve himself in the build-up and offer an attack.
Substitutes
K. Sourav — 6.1/10
Introduced in the 64th minute, Sourav looked to make an impact with his forward runs and movement off the ball. However, he struggled to translate those runs into meaningful attacking contributions, with limited opportunities to influence SC Delhi’s attacking play.
Richard Ndayishimiye — 6.5/10
Coming on in the 67th minute, Ndayishimiye made his presence felt with a shot on target and some encouraging defensive work.
He also contributed with well-timed tackles, showing his willingness to get involved at both ends of the pitch. However, his outing was not without its drawbacks, as he received a yellow card after coming on. Overall, he offered SC Delhi some energy and defensive commitment, although he had limited time to influence the final result.
Akshat Mehra — 6/10
Akshat Mehra came on with limited time remaining and had little opportunity to influence the contest. He looked to contribute during his time on the pitch, but struggled to make a tangible difference as SC Delhi searched for a way back into the game.
Thokchom Diamond Singh — 6/10
Introduced in the second half, Thokchom Diamond Singh attempted to bring fresh energy to SC Delhi’s play. However, despite his efforts to get involved, he was unable to create a decisive moment or significantly change the momentum of the contest.
Carlos Fortes — 6/10
Carlos Fortes entered the game looking to provide SC Delhi with an additional attacking option, but his time on the pitch yielded little tangible reward.
The forward was unable to make a decisive contribution as the visitors attempted to find a way back into the match.
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