FC Goa head coach Zico was ecstatic following his team's 1-0 win against FC Pune City at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Thursday evening. Rafael Coelho's brilliant goal in the 32nd minute proved to be the difference between the two sides. With their second win in eight matches, Goa have now left the bottom of the table to seventh position and Zico's joy knew no bounds.

“It is a great victory for our team that fought to the last minute. We had many opportunities to score but congratulations to my players on their performance today. And we played this game like our life depended on it. This is our life!” the Brazilian legend told reporters after the game.

Goa's first win this season also came in Maharashtra, against Mumbai City FC, however, they are yet to register their first home win, and 63-year-old Zico stressed the importance of fixing that trend. “It's a nice result for us but the thing is we have not won at home yet, we need to win there too. We are playing very well and we came close but the results haven't gone our way yet at home. Today our result came. Like I said, we are playing like our life depends on it. I can be wrong but I think teams are winning more away games this season than home games.”

In an important moment of the match in the first half, Anibal Rodriquez of Pune City was pushed from behind by Luciano Sobrosa in the box but the referee turned down the penalty appeal by the Stallions, a decision criticised by Pune City head coach Antonio Habas later. When asked for his opinion on that, Zico said: “I think his decision to complain is right. I have been complaining a lot myself about the mistakes the referees have made against my team. Against Delhi, we could have got three penalties. It happens. Sometimes, they make mistakes against us and sometimes mistakes are made against others. But lucky for him that he had to complain only about one.”

FC Goa now play Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on November 8.