Going into the fourth season of Hero Indian Super League, FC Pune City had the dubious distinction of being one of two teams to have never qualified for the semifinals.
A draw will be enough for Goa to make it to the last four stage since they are already a point ahead of Jamshedpur.
Even though the game meant little for FC Pune City, who had already qualified for the play-offs, both sides put on a display of some scintillating attacking football.
The top-scorer for Bengaluru, Miku scored his 14th goal of the season after he charged into the box and slotted past Kerala goalkeeper Rachubka.
It was FC Goa's first-ever win over ATK as the hosts dominated most part of the match with Sergio Juste Marin (10th), Lanzarote (15th and 21st), Ferran Corominas Telechea (64th) and substitute Markos Johannus (90th) sounding the board for them.
This was Delhi's second successive victory after the incredible 4-3 comeback against defending champions ATK and they have now remained unbeaten in their last five matches, winning three of them.
The resounding victory, which was also Goa's first clean sheet this season, lifted them to the sixth spot with 24 points under their belt while Pune remained one rung behind table-toppers Bengaluru FC.
Chennaiyin FC are placed third after accumulating 29 points from 17 matches, the same as second-placed FC Pune City, who have a better goal difference.
Romanian Goian, who was the villain in the first half after conceding an own goal to allow North East take a 2-1 half-time lead, finally made amends in the dying minutes.
The draw took FC Goa to 21 points from 15 matches to remain on sixth place in the league table. Delhi Dynamos are now at ninth place with 12 points from 15 matches.
Bengaluru, who have already qualified for the play-offs, are still table-toppers with 34 points after finding the net on 31 occasions in 16 matches.
Chennainyin thus put themselves in a strong position for a place in the play-off after grabbing the third place with 27 points from 15 matches.
Mumbai were punished for their profligacy in the match - wasting multiple chances as they attempted to fight back after Gaikwad's own goal had given the visitors the lead.
The Sunil Chhetri led Bengaluru FC also are on the verge of creating ISL history -- if they win their next match against Pune FC it will be a record sixth on the trot.
In a match between last year's finalists, both the teams had their share of chances but it was ATK's Ryan Taylor who did the star act by scoring one and setting up another for a hard-fought draw.
It was Marcelinho who got the goal that Pune were hunting for all night and came when the visitors had pulled out their top scorer Emiliano Alfaro.
The win takes Bengaluru to 30 points from 14 games while Chennaiyin stay on 23 but has played one match less.
Captain Sunil Chhetri, once again gave the hosts the much-needed lead, after they had conceded an equaliser just before the first half.
Under Sheringham, the defending champions suffered four losses and drew thrice in 10 outings to slip to eighth place in the 10-team standings.
The Goans however have a match in hand and can move to the top of the table if they can defeat Mumbai City FC in their next match at home coming Sunday.
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