Goa head coach Zico was happy with his side’s performance in their 1-1 draw against Atlético de Kolkata. Though a win would have seen his side finish the league phase of the Hero Indian Super League in first place, the Brazilian legend said the main achievement was to be in the semifinals.“I am not disappointed,” said Zico. “We have qualified for the semifinals; that is more important. I hope to get to first place at the end and win the final.”Goa had taken the lead through Edgar Marcelino’s superb first-half volley, but were pegged back when Kolkata striker Fikru earned and converted a penalty. Zico refused to be drawn into a controversy over whether the decision to award the penalty was correct. “I didn’t see so I can’t say. The referee is there to do the necessary. It’s up to them,” stated the 61-year-old.However, in Zico’s opinion, the red card that was awarded to defender Bruno Pinheiro in the wake of the penalty came as a result of the Kolkata players’ protests, with the former Brazil World Cupper certain that the referee would not have sent Pinheiro off otherwise. “The red card was given to Bruno after the Kolkata team went and told the referee,” Zico asserted, before adding that he felt Fikru himself should have been cautioned or even sent off for similar challenges earlier in the game.“We want to go according to the rules. If you want to go according to the rules completely, then you have to mark everything,” Zico said, referring to fouls by Fikru that went unpunished, in his view.The red card means Pinheiro, who has slotted into the Goa defence seamlessly and has been a standout performer over the last few games, will miss both legs of the semifinal. “It is part of the game. We have to expect everything,” affirmed Zico.Goa will face Kolkata again in three days for the first leg of the semifinal, but Zico brushed aside any suggestion that either team will have gained an advantage from this fixture that they would take into the game in Kolkata on December 14. “There is no advantage or disadvantage,” he emphasised.Zico rested a few players for this game, and gave some players who haven’t featured in recent fixtures a chance to shine and make their case for selection ahead of the semifinals. His players did not disappoint, putting in an amazing performance against a fighting Kolkata side desperate not to be knocked out of contention for a semifinal spot. The Goa gaffer was delighted with his charges, and talked up his squad’s depth.“I am very happy. They played beautifully!” Zico exclaimed. “I have been saying since the beginning: we have 27 good players, not just 11.”Sheikh Jewel Raja got a rare start at the ground where the Kolkata native has played numerous times. Speaking alongside his head coach, Raja was quick to point out that there were no conflicted loyalties, even though he would have sent his hometown Kolkata fans home disappointed had Goa won. “I was playing for Goa and I just wanted to win!” said the defensive midfielder. He added that he was certain his team would be able to beat Kolkata in the semifinals, despite having not done so in two attempts in the league phase. “We lost the first game with Kolkata. The second was a draw. Next match, we will definitely try to win.”
