FC Goa fought back from a goal down to emerge 3-2 victors against Delhi Dynamos FC in their 2018-19 Hero Indian Super League (ISL) fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. The win takes the Gaurs to the top of the table after another dramatic home victory.

  • Bikramjit Singh put the Lions in front in the 6th minute.
  • Edu Bedia equalized for the home team 10 minutes into the second half.
  • Lallianzuala Chhangte slotted into an empty net in the 70th minute to hand the Dynamos the lead again.
  • Brandon Fernandes’ hopeful effort beat Francisco Dorronsoro at his near post in the 82nd minute.
  • Bedia’s deft touch in the 89th minute ensured the Gaurs got all three points.

Josep Gambau made three changes to the team that drew at home to Jamshedpur, bringing in Adria Carmona to add much needed creativity to his attack. The Spaniard obliged right away, setting up Bikramjit at the edge of the Goa box after wiggling past a couple of challenges. With no one closing him down, Bikramjit executed a curling effort and scored.

The Gaurs, however, were hardly fazed having gone a goal down, and maintained their attacking intent. Both Ahmed Jahouh and the returning Ferran Corominas tested Dorronsoro in the space of two minutes, but the Delhi custodian was up to the task. The Gaurs should have equalized with arguably their best chance of the first 45 when Lenny Rodrigues’ inviting cross left Dorronsoro scrambling to his far post, although Jackichand Singh failed to delivery the telling touch on the cross.

Having clung onto their slender advantage, the Lions were left to rue a raft of missed chances in a frantic last 15 minutes of the first half. Carmona’s delicious free-kick saw Marcos Tebar unmarked and unchallenged inside the six-yard box, but the midfielder failed to head the ball on target.

With a minute added on, Marti Crespi got underneath another Carmona set-piece to keep the score down to just a single goal going into half-time. The Gaurs aren’t accustomed to being behind for long, and it took them just under 10 second-half minutes to equalize. Dropping deep, Corominas used his awareness to good effect, releasing Mandar Rao Dessai on the left flank. The winger cut a delightful ball back across goal which was met sweetly by Bedia. The goal turned out to be Spaniard’s third of Hero ISL 2018-19.

The Lions, however, found themselves ahead 15 minutes later. Substitute Rene Mihelic found Nandhakumar Sekar with a pinpoint cross inside the Goa six-yard box. Although the winger’s control took him away from goal, he kept his head before pulling it back for Chhangte with a neat little backheel. The Indian forward had the easiest task of slotting the ball in an empty neat. Chhangte was on the end of another clear-cut Lions opportunity after he was found by substitute Mihelic’s cross. This time though the winger failed to head the Lions into a two-goal lead.

The Dynamos’ inability to see out matches came back to haunt them in 76th minute when Goa substitute Fernandes hit a hopeful drive towards Dorronsoro, who just could not get down quickly enough to stop the Gaurs equalize for the second time in the match.

With a minute of regulation time remaining, Bedia applied the gentlest of touches to Hugo Boumous’ free-kick to steer the ball past a flying Dorronsoro. Despite leading the match on two occasions, the Dynamos saw their victory stolen away from their clutches in heartbreaking fashion.

Watch the match highlights here:

Hero of the Match – Ahmed Jahouh

Being FC Goa’s chief orchestrator, everything went through the Moroccan. Having completed 79 passes with a decent 79% accuracy, Jahouh contributed in defence too by winning four tackles and making four crucial interceptions from the center of midfield. 

CLUB AWARDS 

Club Award – FC Goa

Swift Limitless Player of the Match – Edu Bedia 

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Hugo Boumous 

ISL Emerging Player of the Match – Lallianzuala Chhangte 

Hero of the Match – Ahmed Jahouh 

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Gaurs will be on the road to Kerala next to take on the Blasters on Sunday. The Lions on the other hand, will next be in action after the international break when they travel to the home of Bengaluru FC on 26th November.

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