FC Goa and SC East Bengal played out a 1-1 draw in Match 75 of Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 at the Fatorda Stadium on Friday. Igor Angulo gave the Gaurs the lead in the first half and Daniel Fox scored an equaliser for SC East Bengal in the second period, which also witnessed Edu Bedia being given his marching orders.

  • Igor Angulo scored his 10th goal of the season to give FC Goa the lead.
  • Daniel Fox scored the equaliser for SC East Bengal a minute before Edu Bedia was sent off.

SC East Bengal almost had the perfect start to the match after Narayan Das was adjudged to have been brought down in the box and won a penalty. Anthony Pilkington stepped up to the spot to take the penalty but struck wide of the target to the disappointment of his teammates.

Angulo was on the end of Goa’s first opportunity in the 5th minute after being put through on goal. The Spaniard’s shot though was comfortably saved by Debjit Majumder in goal for SC East Bengal. Both teams looked to take the game to the opposition and were making inroads into the opponent penalty area before the respective defences managed to get multiple bodies in the way of the ball to thwart the danger.

Angulo tested Debjit for a second time in the 24th minute with an attempt from outside the box that went straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. The Kolkata club then had a big chance themselves to take the lead four minutes later when Bright Enobakhare ran into the box with ball and provided a cutback for Pilkington, whose improvised finish lacked the power to cross the goalline and was cleared to safety.

Goa’s Jorge Ortiz went on to strike the crossbar in the 37th minute when Debjit tipped a freekick from the left by the Spaniard on to the woodwork. The Gaurs eventually broke the deadlock in the 39th minute after SC East Bengal conceded possession cheaply in their own half. Alberto Noguera made the most of the turnover in possession by sliding Angulo in on goal for the Spanish frontman to round the goalkeeper and slot the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0 at the break.

The Kolkata club began the second half on the front foot and got into threatening areas without making the most of their opportunities. The continuous pressure on FC Goa’s goal eventually paid off for SC East Bengal in the 65th minute after a freekick whipped into the six-yard box from the left was mishandled and spilled by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh. Fortunately for SC East Bengal, Fox was in the right place at the right time to thrash the loose ball into the back of the net and restore parity for his club.

Things went from bad to worse for the Gaurs a minute later after Bedia picked up a second yellow card for a mistimed tackle and was sent off. Substitute Harmanpreet Singh then nearly put SC East Bengal in front in the 75th minute after controlling a cross from the left and firing a powerful shot on target. However, Dheeraj somewhat redeemed himself for his failure to hold on to the ball during SC East Bengal’s first goal by making a stunning save to keep the score level.

The final 10 minutes of the game saw SC East Bengal pile on the pressure in search of a winner with Enobakhare, in particular, causing all sorts of trouble for Goa’s defence. The closing stages witnessed most of the game being played in the Gaurs half and Harmanpreet almost scored a late winner. His shot on the turn from close range looked destined for goal but Dheeraj came to his team’s rescue to deny the SC East Bengal substitute and ensure that Goa hung on for a draw.

Hero of the Match – Bright Enobakhare

Bright Enobakhare had another lively display for SC East Bengal and made life difficult for FC Goa’s defenders. His trickery and pace on the ball saw him skip past defenders in nonchalant fashion. The 22-year-old created two chances for his team and won four fouls for his side as Goa’s defenders looked to tackle him in vain.

Other Match Awards:

Club Award – FC Goa and SC East Bengal

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Alberto Noguera (FC Goa)

Watch the Match Highlights here: