Fernandes’ late strike helps FC Goa beat NorthEast 2-1
Ten-man FC Goa pulled off an incredible victory in the 2016 Hero Indian Super League as they beat NorthEast United FC 2-1 with a last-minute goal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Friday evening. Seityasen Singh opened the scoring off a deflected shot in the 50th minute before the Gaurs staged a brilliant comeback through goals from Robin Singh and Romeo Fernandes.
NorthEast began on a more positive note, and if not for Laxmikanth Kattimani’s heroics in Goa’s goal, would have been a goal up in the third minute itself. Katsumi Yusa’s curling ball was fired in from close by Mailson Alves only to be blocked by the goalkeeper. FC Goa had a couple of chances off their own but they failed to capitalise on them as the game slowed down after the initial flurry of attacks.
The lull then made way for an incredible passage of play for the visitors. Yusa tried his luck with a free-kick but Kattimani was able to punch it away. A couple of minutes later Rowllin Borges also had his header caught cleanly by the Goa custodian. NorthEast were certainly the stronger of the two teams but FC Goa had their own plans as they slowly clawed back into the game.
The trio of Rafael Coelho, Trindade Goncalves and Robin combined well as Goa upped the ante. However, they failed to crack one of the tightest defence in the league. At the other end, the Highlanders were unlucky with a couple of chances. Yusa’s cross was met by Gustavo Lazzaretti, whose header struck the crossbar. The resultant rebound was crossed in with Alves making the leap but again the header hit the woodwork. Robert Cullen then drilled one in with Kattimani just about getting his fingertips to it as Goa held on by the skin of their teeth heading into the break.
Both teams started off cautiously in the second half trying to assert some dominance in midfield. The deadlock was finally broken in the 50th minute when Yusa’s innocuous corner was headed out by Robin and the loose ball fell to Seityasen, whose heavily deflected shot went into the goal to put NorthEast ahead. The goal fired the Goans up to get back into the game, and it was just a matter of time before they equalised. Fernandes ran hard on the right flank and expertly found Robin inside the box, who simply tapped it in to make it 1-1 in the 62nd minute. NEUFC before long could have regained the lead but Kattimani put a leg out to make the save off Nicolas Velez’s powerful volley. The match headed for an exciting finish but a foul from Sahil Tavora on Holicharan Narzary put NorthEast in the driver’s seat as he received his second yellow and was consequently sent off.
Head coach Zico was forced into making changes to keep his side’s defensive shape with Fulganco Cardozo coming in for Mandar Rao Dessai. The Highlanders’ own substitute Koffi Christian N'dri almost had an immediate impact but his long-ranger was expertly punched away by Kattimani. The dying minutes of the game saw Goa desperately trying to resist as NorthEast piled on the pressure.
The game opened up as NorthEast desperately looked for the winner but it was FC Goa who struck on the counter in injury time as Robin’s brilliant ball was put into the goal by Fernandes to snatch an improbable win for the Gaurs.
Match Awards:
Club Award: FC Goa
Amul Fittest Player of the Match: Rowllin Borges
DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Romeo Fernandes
Maruti Suzuki Swift Moment of the Match: Laxmikanth Kattimani
ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Seityasen Singh
Hero of the Match: Laxmikanth Kattimani
No comments:
Post a Comment