Following a 2-0 win against Chennaiyin FC in their 2015 Hero Indian Super League match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday evening, FC Goa Coach Zico said his team went into the match with a defensive mindset and that worked for them.

Chennaiyin FC had drubbed Goa 4-0 in their away game earlier this season thanks to a hat-trick from Colombian striker Stiven Mendoza, and Zico admitted that the scoreline from the previous match made him field five defenders on Thursday to nullify the attacking threats posed by Mendoza and Elano.

“We lost the last game 4-0. We had to be humble enough to recognise their strength and make amends. Yes [we were defensive], it’s because of the strength of the opponents,” Zico told reporters after the match.

With their fourth win in eight matches thanks to successful penalties from Leo Moura and Jonatan Lucca, FC Goa went top of the table ahead of FC Pune City and Delhi Dynamos FC. Lucca, who sat alongside Zico at the press conference, hailed his team-mates for a concerted effort. “I think we have to give credit to everyone. Everyone out there deserves credit from the goalie to the striker. We played a very well-balanced game,” Lucca said.

Meanwhile, Chennaiyin FC coach Marco Materazzi was gracious in the assessment of his team’s fourth loss in eight matches this season. “Today we conceded two penalties. They were fair penalties…There was no choice and it just happened,” the Italian said.

“We didn’t expect this but we lost. We had to win. When we had chances they worked good and stopped us.”

The Super Machans now play another home game on Wednesday, against NorthEast United FC and Materazzi had his eyes set on that game. “Next game is very important game and we have time to regroup and recover. We will come stronger in the next game,” Materazzi said.