Punjab FC vs Odisha FC Player Ratings: Messi Bouli & Uvais shine as Nandha Kumar disappoints
Messi’s brace propel Shers to stoppage time victory over Juggernauts
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi geared up to host the second matchweek fixture of the Indian Super League (ISL), where home team Punjab FC locked horns with Odisha FC in what was a cracker of a game between the Juggernauts and the Shers.
The Shers, who were coming after a semi final finish in the IFA Shield 2026 took just 39 seconds to break the deadlock after a brilliant cross from Uvais was buried into the back of the net by Cameroonian striker Raphaël Messi Bouli, who scored the fifth fastest goal in the history of the ISL.
The Juggernauts led by the experienced T. G. Purushothaman wasted no time and kept going all in for the equaliser. They kept knocking on the doors, and Puitea’s corner was well headed into the goal by Thoiba. Arshdeep and the Punjab defence could just stare in disbelief as the score was level at 1-1.
The game was heading for a stalemate, but Messi Bouli converted a brilliant assist to make it 2-1 in the dying seconds of the game after a brilliant assist from Bishu Sharma.
Punjab FC Ratings
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Arshdeep Singh – 6.5/10
Arshdeep was up against his former side, and he conceded a corner that was converted by Thoiba, who scored a brilliant header into the goal. He had an easy shift tonight as Odisha just had a solitary shot on target in the first half.
Muhammed Uvais – 8.5/10
Uvais, known for his accelerated and overlapping runs, gave the first assist of the game to Messi Bouli, who scored the goal in less than a minute. His combination play with Moya and Suhail was excellent on the left wing. Defensively, he kept Nanda quiet in the wings.
Nikhil Prabhu – 7.5/10
The Punjab FC captain did a decent job of keeping Odisha FC strikers at bay tonight. Odisha just had two shots tonight, and Prabhu was seen as cool, calm and composed throughout.
Bijoy Varghese – 7/10
Bijoy was seen making a costly mistake after failing to track Eid’s onside run, who dragged the ball wide from a golden goal-scoring opportunity. Bijoy’s header from the centre of the box was missed closely.
Khaiminthang Lhungdim – 7.5/10
It was never easy to defend against Indian international Rahim Ali, but he did a good job of neutralising attacks from the right wing. Most of the late penalty box entries from Odisha FC in the first half came from the left wing.
Laishram Rishikanta Meitei – 6.5/10
Meitei was subbed off in the 68th minute after a decent shift in the midfield, where he had five crucial defensive contributions tonight.
Ricky John Shabong – 7/10
Shabong, who featured for Khalid Jamil’s India in the recently concluded international window, came very close to scoring after his shot from outside the box came agonisingly close to crossing the goal line, but the shot missed the target by a few centimetres.
Muhammad Suhail – 7.5/10
Suhail was a live wire on the left flank for the Shers. He was seen making those forward runs whenever Uvais made those accelerated runs up front. He played a pivotal role in the first goal and was in the middle of everything happening around the game tonight.
Alfred Planas – 7.5/10
The former Valencia reserves and Elche striker came very close to scoring the double for Punjab tonight. The Spaniard had two shots on target in the first half and created multiple chances to score.
Diego Raposo – 7/10
The Brazilian winger was a proper team man tonight, helping his team tonight in the right wing both offensively as well as defensively. Apart from just creating chances, he made a few defensive clearances to ensure Odisha FC do not start dominating
Raphaël Messi Bouli – 9/10
The Cameroonian striker scored the first goal of the match in less than a minute on the clock. Uvais gave a brilliant cross, and the man who made the move to the national capital from Jamshedpur FC made no mistake in putting the ball in the back of the net. He was a physical presence for Punjab FC tonight, who stole the winner after scoring the second goal in the dying seconds of the game.
Substitues
Gurkirat Singh – 6.5/10
Singh was brought on late in the 84th minute and had a shot on target. In the last few minutes, he kept pushing hard for the winner, but couldn’t find his name in the scoresheet.
Mohammad Inam – 6/10
Inam replaced Suhail in the 73rd minute and had a decent outing in the midfield to help Punjab dominate the midfield and control the tempo of the game.
Bishu Sharma – 7/10
Bishu had a decent outing after being subbed on. But he gave Messi the match-winning assist as Punjab FC won the game 2-1 against Odisha FC in the dying seconds.
Vishal Yadav – 7/10
Vishal made some brilliant attacking runs upfront and kept knocking on the door of the winner after being subbed on. The pressure yielded results in the end as Messi scored the winner to help Punjab win 2-1
Odisha FC Player Ratings
Hrithik Tiwari – 8/10
Though he conceded early, he didn’t let his belief sail off him. He denied Planas early, Raposo at 58′, Bouli at 74′ and Gurkirat at 86′, all while Punjab were laying siege. He had no chance on either goal.
Vanlalzuidika Chhakchhuak – 5/10
Booked inside four minutes, which handicapped how aggressively he could defend for the rest of the evening. Odisha survived the early storm, but a booking that early is a risk the back line carried the whole match.
Stephen Eze – 6/10
Solid enough in a back line that was under constant pressure in the second half. His 45+2′ effort from range sailed high and wide, a small reminder that his contribution was mostly defensive contrary to what we saw in his past years.
Thoiba Singh – 7.5/10
Won his header from the corner and finished it decisively to drag Odisha back into the game. The goal was exactly what they needed. He and his defensive partners held out for roughly 90 minutes before the final blow landed.
Lalthathanga Khawlhring – 7/10
The creative spark behind the equaliser, with a delivery from the corner that gave Thoiba the cleanest of looks. Set-pieces were Odisha’s most reliable route to goal, and he was the one making that route work.
Giorgi Aburjania – 6/10
Paved way for Rahim Ali’s shot in 63rd minute and was part of the team’s best moment of second-half transition. Replaced by Éverton Nascimento before the hour-and-a-quarter mark, as Odisha tried to chase fresh legs.
Nandhakumar Sekar – 5.5/10
Quiet in terms of end product, in a night where Odisha were mostly reacting. Substituted for Lalrinfela Khiangte in the second half.
Rahim Ali – 6/10
Tried his luck from distance at 63′, but Punjab’s defence blocked it. A willing runner who helped stretch Punjab, but he wasn’t decisive.
Mahmoud Eid – 6/10
Twice threatened, with a miss from the centre of the box on 18′ and a firm left-footed effort at 80′ that Arshdeep did well to keep out. A forward who looked capable of a goal, and the end product just didn’t come.
Manu Molina – 5.5/10
Part of a midfield asked to absorb a lot of pressure. There wasn’t much that stood out in the match record, either way, before he made way for Edwin Vanspaul.
Saviour Gama – 5.5/10
Worked through a long evening, then replaced by Suhair VP as Odisha went looking for a winner.
Substitutes
Lalrinfela Khiangte – 6.5/10
Provided the assist for both Eid’s 80′ effort and Nihal’s 90+5′ shot, so he was involved in two of Odisha’s best chances after coming on.
Éverton Nascimento – 7/10
His through ball to Suhair at in the dying minutes of the game was precisely the kind of incisive pass Odisha needed all night. A bit more composure from the man on the end of it, and this write-up reads differently.
Suhair VP – 4.5/10
Latched on to Éverton’s pass on the right side of the box in the dying seconds and shot wide left. It was a chance to steal all three points, and the miss will cost him sleep.
Nihal Sudheesh – 5.5/10
Forced Arshdeep into a save at 90+5′ but from outside the box, and the effort was comfortable for the keeper.
Edwin Vanspaul – 5/10
On late for Molina, and not enough time or space to influence the contest.
What happened in the Punjab FC vs Odisha FC 2026-27 ISL game?
Punjab FC began their Indian Super League 2026-27 campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 14th October 2026.
Who were the goal scorers in the Punjab FC vs Odisha FC game?
Raphaël Messi Bouli scored 2 goals for Punjab FC & Thoiba Singh scored Odisha FC’s only goal.
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