FC Goa showcased a merciless display in their 5 – 1 rout of defending champions ATK in their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Wednesday. A brace from Manuel Lanzarote and a goal apiece for Sergio Juste, Ferran Corominas and Mark Sifneos ensured that Goa climbed to the fourth spot in the standings. Robbie Keane bagged ATK’s sole goal as the visitors succumbed to their heaviest ever defeat in the league’s history.

It was free-flowing football, to begin with and the ninth minute saw Hugo Boumous cut in from the left, outfox the defender and shoot from a tight angle. But ATK custodian Soram Poirei managed to dive in time and put it out for a corner. From the resulting set-piece taken by Boumous a minute later, Juste rose high and put the ball into the back of the net with a deft header, for his first ever Hero ISL goal.

With a quarter of an hour played, the Gaurs doubled their advantage. Mandar Rao Dessai cut in from the left flank and his shot was parried away by Poirei. However, the ball fell kindly for Lanzarote, who took a touch, picked his spot and fired into the goal.

The hosts again got their third in the 21^st minute. Lanzarote came in from the right, outfoxed his marker and struck a sweet left-footed shot into the goal that gave Poirei no chance. A minute into half-time and Goa should have got a fourth. Lanzarote played the ball across the box to Corominas who had enough time to pick his spot and shoot, but instead, he hit his effort straight to Poirei.

That proved to be the last bit of action from the opening period as Goa went into the break leading 3 – 0.

ATK fashioned themselves their first real chance a minute after the hour mark. Substitute Zequinha delivered a delightful cross from the left flank, but Robbie Keane missed the target with his diving header at the near post.

The visitors were left to rue that miss as three minutes later Goa got their fourth. Corominas struck a low free-kick from just outside the box which left Poirei rooted to his spot as the ball went in by the far post.

Then with a quarter of an hour left, the same ATK combination was involved as Zequinha lifted in a ball towards Keane inside the box, but the latter’s first-time volley was inches wide of the target. A minute later, the Irishman’s side-volley from Mbatha’s cross also blazed just over the crossbar.

Keane though would get a goal as ATK grabbed a late consolation, three minutes from time. The visitors’ captain cut in from the left and hit a low shot that took a deflection off the Goa defence before creeping over the line.

Then right on 90 minutes, the Gaurs got back their four-goal advantage. Anwar Ali’s mistake from an attempted headed clearance put Sifneos through and he slotted home past Poirei to register his first goal for his new team.

There was still time left for Lanzarote to hit wide with the entire goal at his mercy following a swift counter, but Goa ended with a rampaging display to keep their semi-final hunt alive.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: FC Goa

Swift Limitless Player: Sergio Juste

DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Pronay Halder

Amul Fittest Player: Hugo Boumous

Emerging Player: Seriton Fernandes

Hero of the Match: Manuel Lanzarote

Watch the match highlights here: