FC Goa found a late equaliser to hold Bengaluru FC to a 1-1 draw in Match 9 of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2019-20 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Monday. Bengaluru dominated the first 75 minutes and led through a 62nd Udanta Singh goal. However, the Gaurs managed to salvage a point from the contest, courtesy a late Ferran Corominas penalty.

At the post-match press conference, Goa head coach Sergio Lobera shared his thoughts on the final result and stated, “I am not happy because I always want the full three points. One point wasn’t good for us going into the match, but if you saw the match, maybe one point is what we deserved.”

“Bengaluru dominated the match in the first-half for sure. My team was working well in the opening minutes of the second period, I felt. But we conceded a goal and had some problems. However, I don’t think Bengaluru had many clear chances. We had some chances and got the penalty. I think the result was just. It was a difficult match against a tough opposition,” he added.

Asked if the absence of the likes of Hugo Boumous and Edu Bedia handicapped his team for the contest, the Spaniard opined, “The big problem for us was we couldn’t keep possession of the ball. We had to play in our own half. It’s true, I am missing some players and as a coach, you want your full squad to be available to you. It’s not because the other players aren’t working well. It’s because we had two matches within a short period of time and some of the players were tired. Obviously, Edu and Hugo are very good players for us. But I am very proud of the players who played today.”

From the Bengaluru camp, head coach Carles Cuadrat, who turned 51 today, addressed the media. “I think that today we managed the game well. I think sometimes with Goa, it’s 50-50. We were really managing the game well and not letting them create chances. I don’t remember any saves from Gurpreet (Singh Sandhu). So, happy with the work of the team. Happy with heart of my players. But not happy with the result because I think we really deserved the three points,” he said about the contest.

Asked about the late penalty conceded by Ashique Kuruniyan, which eventually cost Bengaluru two points, Cuadrat stated, “At that moment of the game, you have to avoid going for the ball. So, I think it’s a good lesson for Ashique. He is a player who is giving us a lot. He’s having a good season. Sometimes when you are young, you need to live that kind of situation to keep improving as a player and to keep learning. I think that he was fantastic today but, in that moment, he made a mistake.”

Enquired if the team was feeling the void of Miku, who left the club this season, and midfielder Erik Paartalu, who is out with an injury, the Spaniard responded, “We didn’t have Miku for half of last season and we got a lot of points. With (Erik) Paartalu also, he was out in the semi-finals and final, and we still got the Hero ISL title. What I mean is that we work as a team, and we have 25 players who give all they have. So, I’m not worried. I think that we deserved six points until now. We got two. The chances are there. We managed the game. We created the chances. So, I’m not really worried about the past. Miku was a great player for the club, but history is history.”

Read the Match Report here.