FC Goa’s young prodigy Brison Fernandes found himself on the scoresheet in their recent 1-2 defeat to Al Nassr FC in the AFC Champions League Two group-stage fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Buoyed by strong fan support, the Gaurs put in a valiant performance against the mighty Saudi giants but fell just short, succumbing to their third consecutive loss of the continental campaign.

Despite the result, Brison’s strike against Al Nassr will remain a memorable moment for both the youngster and the club. His composed finish against one of Asia’s strongest sides highlighted his growing maturity and confidence on the big stage, and offered the Gaurs a glimmer of pride. This goal also marked their first in the competition and was also the first that Al Nassr conceded in the campaign.

The midfielder shared his delight at having scored against the Saudi giants and took pride in his team’s spirited performance against the heavyweight side.

"I am very happy for myself and the team. We gave everything on the pitch. We could have done better; there's always room for improvement,” Brison told The Times of India.

The Goan midfielder came on as a substitute in the 25th minute to replace the injured Javier Siverio. Soon after entering the pitch, he took charge of FC Goa’s attacking transitions, eventually creating a historic moment for the Gaurs.

Brison received a through ball from Borja Herrera and beat his marker with a quick run inside the box. The midfielder took his time and curled it into the corner with his precise right-footed strike to reduce the deficit.

🇮🇳 Goa’s own 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬 rises when it matters most, sending the Gaur Army into raptures!#ACLTwo | #GOAvNSR pic.twitter.com/4riJFRDHMq

— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) October 22, 2025

The goalscorer thanked his head coach, Manolo Marquez, whose tactical insights proved to be crucial, resulting in Brison finding him on the scoresheet.

Speaking in context, he remarked, “After the previous games (in ACL2), the coach told me to maintain composure whenever I have the ball.”

“That's what I did, and it resulted in a memorable goal. This is a great feeling for me, to score in an Asian competition against a team like Al-Nassr. I am glad that I could score for the team at my home ground. This is where I come from," he added.

Born and brought up in Goa, Brison came through the ranks at FC Goa, showcasing his talent throughout his journey to the first team. Creative, quick-footed, and intelligent both on and off the ball, the young attacking midfielder’s potential caught Marquez’s eye from the very first day.

The Spaniard has played a pivotal role in nurturing the youngster’s career, bringing him into the limelight and turning him into the X-factor of the Gaurs’ squad.

When quizzed about Fernandes’s impact and his improvement over the seasons under his watchful eye, the FC Goa head coach recalled, "I picked Brison (as the best), and he was not playing at that time."

"Now, he is a top professional. I love Brison. As a player and person, he is fantastic," Marquez concluded.

FC Goa will now begin their quest to defend the AIFF Super Cup on Sunday, facing Jamshedpur FC in the opening match that also serves as a rematch of last edition’s final.