Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis opined that conceding the equalising goal against the run of play cost them points as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Wednesday.

The Shers started the game on the front foot as Asmir Suljić opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Punjab FC displayed their offensive prowess as they created numerous attacking moves in the opening quarter of the game.

However, FC Goa stood strong as they found themselves back in the game with Armando Sadiku netting the equalizer in the 22nd minute. With this goal, the Albanian forward extended his goalscoring run to seven consecutive games in the ISL, becoming the third player to do so after Kalu Uche and Alaaeddine Ajaraie.

Manolo Marquez’s men took the lead in the opening minutes of the second half thanks to Spanish forward Iker Guarrotxena, who recorded his first goal of the season to help the Gaurs register back-to-back home wins.

Dilmperis shared his displeasure with how his team conceded the second goal in the second half. However, the Greek head coach heaped praise on his players’ performance in the opening half, where the Shers dominated the game with their possession-based attacking football.

“We started the game great; I think in the first 25 minutes there was only one team in the field. A lot of possession, simple things. The way we train and then suddenly after the goal looks like we lost concentration,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“We start playing more complicated without discipline. We thought that we would change everything during the half, and then individual mistakes cost us the second goal,” he added.

The hustle was real, but short of the mark! 🦁#PFCFCG #TheShers #PunjabDaJosh pic.twitter.com/nXUfh5zF5r

— Punjab FC (@RGPunjabFC) November 6, 2024

Dilmperis believed that a draw would have been a fair result considering how they played against FC Goa.

“Suppose that during the game, FC Goa, since they have only three days, the tie or if we were winning it would be good for us, but this is football,” the Punjab FC head coach stated.

“Suddenly FC Goa were able to stand back without a lot of running, without pressure, and we were the team that had to run. We risked it,” he further added.

FC Goa’s defense line demonstrated a resilient performance throughout the game, with Sandesh Jhingan and Odei Onaindia pairing well in the heart of the defense line. While quizzed about their long-ball tactics in the final half of the game, Dilmperis remarked,

“It was not orthologic. The way we try to play with long balls, (with) two strikers, without (a) winger. Some ideas because we saw that FC Goa’s two lines of defense were working properly and were trying to surprise them,” he stated.

“Nothing major, but I think that only the last chance with (Mushaga) Bakenga, if he was scoring, that would be great. I think that the result of this game, the right one, is a tie, but this is football,” he signed off.