Drukpa FC Stun Reigning Champions in Goal Filled Opener
It was a evening of pure drama as Paro FC locked horns with Drukpa FC in an explosive season opener for both the teams that delivered goals, momentum swings, and late heartbreak for the defending champions in the BoB Bhutan Bhutan Premier League 2026.
The match began with high intensity from both sides. For the first 15 minutes, neither team gave an inch as they went head-to-head in a physical and tactical battle. The deadlock remained unbroken, but the tempo was relentless, with both sides searching for the opening breakthrough.
The breakthrough finally arrived for the home side as Paro FC took control with a well worked move from a corner Asante struck from outside the box giving the lead in the 22nd minute of the game.
But the lead didn’t last long in a match already heating up into a classic as Mathew Musa capitalizes on a costly back pass error from Asante in the 30th minute and finishes with absolute composure to bring his side level in style. Paro FC regained momentum and struck again with a well worked move involving their Japanese duo. The attack was finished calmly by their striker, Taiga, with a composed tap in moving into a 2–1 advantage after another sharp attacking phase involving clever combination play in the 39th minute. The champions looked in control, and the home crowd sensed authority building.
At halftime, Paro FC went into the break with a narrow lead after an action-packed first half filled with intensity, drama, and end to end football.
The second half, however, belonged to Drukpa FC. The visitors struck within the 8-minute right after the kick- off of the second half to level the match at 2–2 from a brilliant through ball from Yeshi Wangchuk sliced through the Paro defence, allowing Philip to finish calmly with the outside of his boot.
15 mins after the equalizer, in the 68th minute of the game, Drukpa FC then took the lead in dramatic fashion from a counter attack as a dangerous cross from Mathew forced pressure inside the box, resulting in an unfortunate deflection off Mohib Ullah, turning it into an own goal.
As the Drukpa FC head coach, Dorji Khando explained, “That moment was very important for us, it changed the direction of the game completely for both the teams.”
From leading comfortably with possession and chances in their hand, Paro FC suddenly found themselves behind. With lots of pressure in the Drukpa FCs own half, their defenders showed the winning mentality stopping all the shots of the home team.
The knockout blow came from the bench in the dying minute of the game (88 minute). Substitute Leon, who came on for Karma Jamtsho Tashi during the second half, made an instant impact, smashing home a powerful close-range finish to extend Drukpa FC’s lead. The visitors erupted in celebration as they took full control of the contest.
As the Drukpa FC coach summed it up, “We told the boys to stay focused till the last minutes. Anything can happen in football, even in 10 minutes and they believed.”
As the Paro FC head coach Puspalal Sharma reflected, “We started well and created chances, but we were not clinical enough in key moments.” He added, “Football is about transitions, and we lost control in those phases in the second half.”
What started as a tight, tactical battle turned into a stunning comeback story. Paro FC showed flashes of dominance, but Drukpa FC’s resilience, clinical finishing, and game changing tactics and counter proved decisive.
The newcomers didn’t just compete, they rattled the champions and stole the spotlight on opening.