FC Goa moved into the top four in the 2020-21 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) standings after a 1-0 win over Odisha FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Saturday. Igor Angulo scored the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time.

  • Igor Angulo scored the opener for Goa in first-half injury time.
  • Goa had plenty of chances to add to their lead in the second half, but Odisha’s goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh was in inspired form.

The Gaurs dominated possession from the outset and had two sighters at goal through Angulo and Jorge Mendoza inside the opening 16 minutes. Goa’s playmaker Brandon Fernandes nearly scored the opener in the 28th minute after his deflected cross from the right had Odisha’s goalkeeper scrambling to make a save at his near post.

Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession and spending most of the opening period in Odisha’s half, Goa were finding it difficult to create chances. The Bhubaneswar-based club almost made it to halftime with the match goalless, but Angulo had other plans.

The Spanish striker was at his clinical best when a cross from the left by Alexander Jesuraj found him near the six-yard box. Angulo took a deft touch to create some space before dispatching the ball into the bottom corner to give Goa a 1-0 lead at the break.

Odisha began the second period positively and could have levelled the score two minutes into the half if Jerry Mawihmingthanga had managed to keep his header from a Hendry Antonay cross on target. Goa responded with a shot from inside the box by Mendoza in the 50th minute. His attempt was goal-bound and required a block by Steven Taylor.

Mendoza then shot from range moments later and forced Odisha’s custodian into a save. Stuart Baxter’s men, though, were looking dangerous whenever they were near Goa’s penalty area and Cole Alexander almost netted an equaliser for them in the 53rd minute with a powerful shot from just outside the box that was inches wide of goal.

However, Odisha’s goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh was undoubtedly the busier of the two shot-stoppers and had to make two quick saves in the 64th minute. He first used his feet to deny Angulo from scoring off a delightful cross into the penalty area before using his hands to stop Mendoza from netting with a shot from the edge of the box.

Angulo had another chance to score 10 minutes later after Princeton Rebello put the Spaniard through on goal with a lovely ball in behind Odisha’s backline. The Spanish striker managed to get his shot away but couldn’t hit the target to the disappointment of his teammates.

Arshdeep was called into action again in the 84th minute when Mendoza unleashed a powerful shot from distance that required the goalkeeper’s intervention. The Odisha goalkeeper made another double save to deny Mendoza first and then Seiminlen Doungel in the 89th minute before a third attempt by the Gaurs was blocked on the goal-line by Antonay.

Mendoza’s frustration having failed to find the back of the net continued to grow in injury time after a deflected effort from range by the Spaniard was parried behind for a corner by Arshdeep. In the end, not scoring a second goal didn’t count for much as Goa did enough to hold on to their lead and secure all three points.

Hero of the Match – Jorge Mendoza

Even though he couldn’t score a goal on the night, Jorge Mendoza was a lively presence on the pitch. He peppered Odisha’s goal throughout the game and got into dangerous positions. Mendoza finished the game with 87 touches of the ball, four shots on target and created one chance. He also worked hard in defence and made one successful tackle, one successful interception and one block.

Other Match Awards:

Club Award – FC Goa

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Alexander Jesuraj (FC Goa)

Watch the Match Highlights here: