Mumbai City FC pulled off a dramatic comeback to defeat FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) first leg semi-final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Wednesday. It was one of the most remarkable come-from-behind wins in the league's playoff history.

FC Goa appeared to have the match under control during regular time. They took the lead in the 16th minute thanks to Boris Singh, who scored with a tap-in finish after a stunning assist from Mohammed Yasir. Captain Brandon Fernandes then doubled the advantage for the home side with a long-range strike from outside the box in the 56th minute.

The Gaurs maintained their two-goal cushion throughout the rest of regular time, seemingly on course for a comfortable win. However, their hopes were dashed as Mumbai City FC, led by Petr Kratky, mounted an incredible comeback in injury time.

The Islanders scored three times in just seven minutes to reverse the deficit and take the lead going into the second leg. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Vikram Partap Singh orchestrated this dramatic turnaround. Chhangte scored twice, both left-footed shots from close range within the box. Singh scored the other goal, taking advantage of a rebound after FC Goa goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh couldn't handle Gurkirat Singh's shot.

This electrifying comeback has left FC Goa in shock and given Mumbai City FC a significant advantage ahead of the second leg. With that, let's delve into the match and analyse some intriguing statistics from this thrilling encounter:

● Mumbai City FC’s win was the first instance a team has completed a comeback win after going two goals down in the ISL play-offs game; in fact, the Islanders are unbeaten against FC Goa in their last 11 encounters in the competition (W6 D5).

● Including their latest win, Petr Kratky has 11 wins after 17 games in the ISL, only Albert Roca had won more matches after his first 17 games in the ISL (12 wins); in fact, his tally of 3 losses after 17 games is only bettered by Jose Molina (2 losses) after as many games in the league.

This game was the first time that FC Goa has conceded more than two goals in a single home match this season; the last time they conceded more than twice in one game at home was also against Mumbai City FC (3-5 loss on 11 February 2023).

● Mumbai City FC scored three goals in the 90th minute or later against FC Goa, the first instance a side has managed to achieve this in a single game in the Isl; in fact, their two goals in the injury time of the second half was the first instance of a team scoring multiple goals in this period of a playoff game in the ISL.

● Boris Singh scored his third goal against Mumbai City FC, the most he has scored against a single side in ISL.

● Brandon Fernandes has now scored in each of his last three matches in the ISL, his longest such run in the league's history; in fact, his three goals this season are joint highest tally in a single ISL campaign (also 2022-23 and 2018-19).

● Including yesterday's strike, six of Brandon Fernandes' 11 goals in the ISL have come from outside the box; in fact, his 54.6% is the highest such share of all players to have scored at least ten goals in ISL.

● Chhangte has scored eight goals against FC Goa in the ISL, his highest such tally against any single opponent; in fact, his 11-goal contributions against the Gaurs is also his highest against any single opponent in the league's history.

● Chhangte has recorded a goal contribution in seven consecutive games in the ISL, his outright longest such streak of games in the league's history and the outright second longest by any Islander in history (Jorge Pereyra Diaz – 9 games).

● This was the first instance of Jayesh Rane picking up multiple assists in a single ISL game.