A brilliant striker will always hog the headlines. But any football fan worth their salt knows that sometimes, the real heroes wear gloves. In the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season, a few goalkeepers stood tall, sometimes literally, to keep their sides in the game. While scoring goals wins matches, saving them defines moments.

Here’s a look at the players who made eight saves in a single match, the highest this season.

1) Gurpreet Singh Sandhu vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant - 8 saves

This was the kind of game that announced Bengaluru FC’s arrival as Shield contenders early on in the season. Bengaluru FC weren’t just good, they were clinical as they recorded a 3-0 win in September. But what made this dominant performance stand out was the rock-solid presence of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu between the sticks.

MBSG actually had more shots in the match, but Sandhu had other plans. He pulled off a string of stunning saves, frustrating the Mariners' front line and preserving a clean sheet. In a game that was deceptively end-to-end, Sandhu was the calm in the storm, helping BFC register a statement win.

2) Padam Chettri vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant - 8 saves

Sometimes a heavy defeat doesn’t tell the full story, and this was one of those nights when Mohammedan SC and MBSG faced off in October.

Padam Chhetri, turning out for Mohammedan SC, was under siege from the get-go. The Mariners were relentless and while the scoreboard read 3-0 at full time, it could've been far worse if not for Chettri’s heroics.

He stopped eight out of 12 shots on target, keeping the scoreline respectable and showing that even in losses, individual brilliance can shine. For a keeper playing in one of the season’s biggest derby matches, Chettri handled the heat like a veteran.

3) Amrinder Singh vs Mumbai City FC - 8 saves

Talk about a one-man barricade.

When Mumbai City FC faced Odisha FC in December, they peppered the Odisha FC goal with 20 shots, while the hosts managed just eight. But the scoreboard didn’t budge thanks to Singh. His most impressive moment came late in the game, when he produced back-to-back saves to deny both Jeremy Manzorro and Lallianzuala Chhangte.

It was a game that showcased the India international at his very best - calm, composed and consistently a step ahead of the attackers. A clean sheet and a well-earned point were Odisha FC’s rewards and their keeper was the reason behind both.

4) Amrinder Singh vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant - 8 saves

Odisha FC were away at a packed MBSG base in February and despite the pressure, Singh put on a clinic in goalkeeping as his team went down fighting 1-0.

He denied attack after attack, keeping Odisha FC in the game until the final moments. Unfortunately for him, Mourtada Fall’s late red card left them down to ten, and Dimitri Petratos eventually found a way through in injury time. That goal sealed the League Shield for MBSG, but it was a night where Singh’s efforts deserved more.

5) Samik Mitra vs Jamshedpur FC - 8 saves

Don’t let Chennaiyin FC’s 5-2 win over Jamshedpur FC fool you. Samik Mitra had his hands full in this one when the two sides clashed in March.

Chennaiyin FC were out of the playoff race, but pride was on the line in their final home game of the season. After Jamshedpur FC clawed back to make it 3-2, the momentum was very much with the visitors. That’s when Mitra stepped up, pulling off multiple key saves to stop the comeback in its tracks.

With the pressure building, he kept his cool and his goal intact before Chennaiyin FC sealed the win with two late strikes. It was a great day for the team, but also a massive performance from Mitra, who refused to let the occasion get to him.

6) Gurpreet Singh Sandhu vs FC Goa - 8 saves

Different game, different stakes, same wall in goal.

This was the second leg of the semi-final and Bengaluru FC were clinging to a narrow advantage. FC Goa pushed hard and even won the match 2-1 on the night, but Sandhu’s resilience meant the Blues held on to win 3-2 on aggregate and book a place in the final.

One moment that stood out? A jaw-dropping double save that could easily make a season highlight reel. If not for his reflexes and positioning, FC Goa might’ve pulled off a comeback. Instead, the Blues lived to fight another day and Sandhu’s gloves did the talking once again.