Kolkata, Sunday, September 27, 2026: Punjab FC kicked off their IFA Shield 2026-27 campaign in spectacular fashion, registering a resounding 7-0 victory over Calcutta Customs Club at the Barasat Stadium on Sunday.
A devastating debut performance from newly signed international forward Raphael Messi Bouli, who secured a magnificent hat-trick and provided two assists, ensured the Shers were utterly ruthless. Messi Bouli was rightfully adjudged the Player of the Match for his commanding heroics in the final third.
The match began with a cautious opening for the first two to three minutes, but Punjab FC quickly found their speed and rhythm. Unable to match the pace created by the ISL side, Calcutta Customs soon found themselves overwhelmed. In the eighth minute, brilliant interplay between Sanathoi Singh and Messi Bouli set the tone. From an assist by Manglenthang Kipgen, Messi Bouli produced a scintillating, Ronaldo-esque left-footed strike from distance, just outside the 30-yard box, which comfortably defeated Customs goalkeeper Debjit Ghosal.
Just five minutes later (13’), the Messi magic continued. Kipgen brilliantly intercepted a long ball in the midfield and found the Cameroonian forward, who pierced the defensive line, danced past two defenders, and found himself in a one-on-one situation with Ghosal. He calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to secure his brace, allowing the Shers to stamp their authority on the match within the opening quarter of an hour.
Refusing to let the local side breathe, Punjab FC maintained relentless pressure. Kipgen continued to press effectively from the middle of the park, leaving Calcutta Customs helpless. The local side gave away possession too often and couldn’t find any goalscoring opportunities or half-chances.
The Shers added a third in the 21st minute through an absolute team goal. In an unselfish move, Messi Bouli bypassed the chance for an early hat-trick, instead providing a point-blank assist for winger Sanathoi Singh, who made no mistake with the tap-in. The Shers continued to roar, and moments later, a brilliant sequence of gameplay between Bishu Sharma and Sanathoi set up another point-blank chance for Messi Bouli, but Debjit Ghosal produced a diving save to deny him.
However, the fourth goal arrived shortly after in the 29th minute. Following a picture-perfect assist from the right flank by the relentless Kipgen, Bishu executed a calm two-touch finish, setting the ball up with his first touch and scooping it over the onrushing goalkeeper.
Approaching halftime, the match began to resemble a training ground drill in a competitive fixture. With an ample amount of space and no passes blocked, it was too easy for the ISL outfit. The onslaught continued in the 43rd minute as Alfred Planas joined the scoring party. Demonstrating brilliant chemistry, Messi Bouli produced a superb backheel assist, putting the ball on a plate for the Spaniard, who confidently dispatched it into the net.
Just a minute later, in the 44th minute, Messi Bouli completed his well-deserved hat-trick. Breaking through the defensive line with a pacy solo run, he bypassed the advancing Ghosal and simply tapped the ball into an empty net, sending Punjab FC into the break with a staggering 6-0 lead.
The second half began at a slightly reduced pace. While Punjab FC dominated possession for most parts of the opening quarter of the half, clear-cut chances were less frequent. Substitute Diego Raposo nearly added to the tally after beating the goalkeeper, but his effort was cleared by the Customs defense.
Despite the drop in tempo, Punjab FC found their seventh goal in the 62nd minute. Forward Gurkirat Singh unleashed a spectacular long-range strike directly from a throw-in sequence. His placement was spot on, leaving the Customs goalkeeper completely unmoved.
The Shers kept knocking on the Calcutta Customs defense for the remainder of the game, but the scoreline remained unchanged. Although they managed only one goal in the second half, Punjab FC’s dictation of the game and their completely ruthless first-half display culminated in a resounding 7-0 victory.
With this comprehensive opening victory, Punjab FC move into a commanding position to advance to the semi-finals of the IFA Shield. The Shers will now face local heavyweights East Bengal FC in their final group fixture on September 30 at the East Bengal Ground.
