The final game of the 2015 Hero Indian Super League group stage witnessed an incredible game of football at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with visitors FC Goa staging a remarkable comeback and winning 3-2 against hosts Delhi Dynamos FC. The Gaurs and Dynamos played entertaining football all through with goals coming from Serginho Greene and Adil Nabi for Delhi in the first half before Romeo Fernandes’ brace and Joffre’s 90th-minute strike helped Goa cement the top spot. Delhi, after their first defeat at home this season, had to content themselves with the fourth spot.The home side saw Roberto Carlos hand over starts to Sanjiban Ghosh, Souvik Chakraborty, Anwar Ali, Robert, Vinicius, Richard Gadze and Robin Singh while Zico included Dudu, Bikramjit, Denson and Elinton Andrade.The home side showed more attacking intent in the first half, backed by a well-organised defence. Vinicius found himself with a couple of chances at goal but his shots lacked the finishing required to hurt the Gaurs. The breakthrough was not far away though, when Lucio fouled Robin on the right wing and Florent Malouda’s free-kick was beautifully headed in by Greene.The onslaught continued when moments later a misclearance almost saw Elinton carry the ball into goal after it ricocheted off Robin but the keeper got back in time to deny Delhi a second. Not for long though. A good through ball through a crowded defence to Nabi saw the Englishman score a typical striker’s goal.The half ended with a Joffre cross being headed over the bar by Reinaldo. In the second half, coach Zico brought on Romeo for Debabrata Roy, and this substitution made all the difference to the game. Romeo’s pace and drive saw him get on to the score-sheet 15 minutes into his arrival. Played in by Reinaldo, Romeo cut into the box and smashed the ball past Ghosh to bring the visitors back in the game. Goa did not have to wait long for the second goal as Romeo made it 2-2 with a simple tap-in past Ghosh, after latching on to a low cross into the box. In the dying moments of the game, Joffre showed amazing composure in the box to ward off Ali and the keeper and sealed the win for the visitors.With the win, Goa cemented the top spot followed by Atlético de Kolkata, Chennaiyin FC and Delhi Dynamos FC. Goa will again face Delhi in the semis. ATK and Chennai will feature in the other semi-final.MATCH AWARDSClub Award – FC GoaSwift Moment of the Match – John Arne Riise [Delhi Dynamos FC]Amul Fittest Player of the Match – Richard Gadze [Delhi Dynamos FC] DHL Winning Pass [Delhi Dynamos] – Florent Malouda ISL Emerging Player of the Match – Pronay Halder [FC Goa]Hero of the Match – Romeo Fernandes [FC Goa] (Watch here)
