Spoting Club Delhi suffered a comeback against Bengaluru FC in its opening match of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27. On Sunday, it flipped the script against Mumbai City FC, with a stunning 3-2 victory at the Mumbai Football Arena.

The visiting side scored three times in the final 20 minutes to earn its first win in the league this season.

Trailing 0-3 until the 72nd minute, Carlos Fortes began the comeback, scoring after coming off the bench, while Akshat Mehra and Juan Pena netted in second-half stoppage time to pull off the dramatic result.

Mumbai City started quickly, with Akash Mishra’s through ball finding Muhammad Ajsal inside the opening four minutes. His effort was saved, and the rebound fell to Zothanpuia, whose follow-up was blocked.

Two minutes later, Ajsal finally found the net after a one-two with Noufal, following a defensive error from Lamgoulen Hangshing.

SC Delhi looked to respond, with Duvan Viafara’s left-footed strike from distance flying just over the crossbar in the 12th minute. At the other end, youngster Hridaya Jain missed an opportunity in the 23rd minute, shooting over from Ajsal’s cushioned pass after a floated delivery from Akash.

Noufal, who will join the national camp for the SAFF Championship this month, continued to look dangerous and set up Zothanpuia in the 27th minute with a cross from the left. The former Aizawl forward made no mistake to sneak it past Nora Fernandes — SC Delhi’s goalkeeper — with a right-footed finish.

SC Delhi grew into the game after the restart when Pena tested TP Rehenesh with a long-range effort, which the Mumbai City goalkeeper saved with his fingertips.

Tomas Tchorz injected fresh legs in the last quarter, bringing on Cape Verdean striker Fortes for Rodriguinho in the 71st minute. And that paid immediate dividends. Two minutes later, Rehenesh spilt a corner, and the ball fell to Ashutosh Mehta, who set up Fortes for a tap-in to reduce the deficit.

Tchorz’s choice of substitutes came good again when Akshat Mehra took the field in the 88th minute. He took a pass from Ndayishimaye before curling past Rehenesh to make it all square in stoppage time.

Mumbai City, now huffing and puffing, saw the game go away from them when Pena danced past the home side’s defence to slot it home, securing full points.

The result catapulted SC Delhi from the bottom to eighth in the standings, while Mumbai City, with two points from four games, is third from the bottom. Injuries have also played a major role in disrupting the Islanders’ campaign, with Wilmar Jordan Gil, Vikram Partap Singh and Leandro Orotmin out.

But the poor form — two draws and as many losses in four games — also left former India coach Manolo Marquez’s managerial role hanging by a thread. The Spaniard had helped Hyderabad FC win the ISL in the 2021-22 season and also won the Super Cup with Goa. However, he has failed to inspire a similar spark at Mumbai City FC so far.

The Islanders will have plenty to ponder on in the international break, with their next match scheduled on November 20, against Bengaluru FC. Meanwhile, SC Delhi will look to build on its newly-found winning touch against bottom-placed Inter Kashi on November 7.

Published on Nov 01, 2026