Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis pointed out a loss of concentration as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw at Mohammedan SC in their final game of the Indian Super League (ISL) season in Kolkata on Monday.

The match showcased a competitive spirit, with Punjab FC initially taking the lead in the ninth minute thanks to Ezequiel Vidal. Despite a strong start, the first half ended with missed opportunities from both sides, setting the stage for a more intense second half.

The second half saw Punjab FC extend their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Luka Majcen. However, Mohammedan SC fought back valiantly, scoring twice in rapid succession through Marc Schmerbock and Robi Hansda, ultimately levelling the match, and both sides took home a share of the points.

Match Report: Mohammedan SC 2-2 Punjab FC

The coach explained that the team lost concentration, particularly defensively, after building a lead and creating numerous chances, leading to a belief that the game was won and allowing the opposition to score twice.

"I think that we lost our concentration because of the kind of game this was. When we were creating a lot of chances, my players believed that the game was done. We lost concentration, especially in the defensive part, so the opponents managed in two situations to score two goals. I think this is the reason," he said during the post-match press conference.

Looking ahead to the next ISL season and the rest of this season, the coach explained that the key improvement should be developing defensive abilities.

"When you see the statistics of this season's champions and the statistics that we have, you can easily see that we are the best team in recoveries and interceptions. We are the team that has the fewest balls in our box. So it's obvious that we have to develop our defending abilities with the experience that is going to come to the players because we also have young players, and we have to start scoring goals and bringing the ball with more quality into the box,” the head coach said.

When asked about what changed after taking the two-goal lead and then conceding two goals to share the points, the head coach responded, “Because, in the first half, the team was quite dominant in that area. And in the second half, we lost our concentration. We believed that the game was done. Before the second goal, Mohammedan SC couldn't create anything. So it looked like we believed that we could win the game easily.”

With the draw tonight, Punjab FC finished the campaign with 28 points, which includes eight wins and four draws.
The team started strong but faltered in the second half of the season. Now, looking ahead, the coach acknowledged the need for improvement in the squad, particularly in maintaining performance when key players are injured.

"We know that we lost players during this season—crucial, important, key players, especially Filip and Ivan. So that was the reason. And then, we were the team that started well. We didn't feel pressure. But when you stay back, you feel pressure, when you're running behind in games. It was risky, our game. In most of the games where we tried to risk, instead of drawing, we lost them. I think this is what happened,” he stated.

"So, next season, we have to be sure that if we lose one player, we are ready to replace him. We shouldn't be depending on one or two players all the time,” he said as he concluded.