AGENCIES
DUBAI
FC Goa's pre-season preparations in Dubai have been going well, but it was the manner of the draw against Al Khaleej in their opening friendly on September 11th, that would've had Zico scratching his head.
The Goans surged into the lead with first half goals from debutantes Jofre Gonzalez and Reinaldo, but found themselves pegged back by well taken goals from the home team on either side of the half-time interval.
Zico opted to field Elinton Andrade in goals shielded by Lucio and Gregory Arnolin in central defense. The attack was a sharp one featuring Jofre, Joaquim Abranches, Thongkhosiem Haokip and Reinaldo whilst Leo Moura and Bikramjit Singh were installed in the middle of the park. Victor Simoes was out injured and the the trio of Romeo Fernandes, Narayan Das and Pronay Halder were available for selection from the substitutes bench, fearing fatigue after their national team commitments.
It was Jofre who handed the advantage to the away team with a neat finish early in the first half. He received a fine through ball by Haokip and after evading his marker, the diminutive Spaniard slapped the ball past the custodian and onto the post, where from it deflected into the back of the net to hand Zico's men the advantage.
The away side were showing signs of domination and Nicolau Colaco had a headed effort saved soon after the first goal. Abranches then came agonizingly close to doubling the Goans advantage just before a regulation water break for both sides. Jofre, supplied by Moura found space to nibble in a cross which the opposition goalkeeper failed to clear adequately. The ball fell to Abranches, who saw his shot blocked on the line.
However, FC Goa wouldn't have to rue that missed effort for long as a momentous error by the opposition defense, who were trying to clear a Lucio throughball, gifted possesion to Reinaldo. The Brazilian attacker, having only the keeper to beat, slotted into the back of the net with ease and cushion FC Goa with a 2-0 lead.
Yet, the joy wouldn't last long for the Gaurs, with Al Khaleej converting a free-kick earned on the edge of the 18 yard-box, after catching Andrade off-guard. The teams headed into the break at 2-1 with the Goans looking a lot less comfortable than earlier.
The second half started off with the home team in the ascendancy and they nearly scored had it not been for Andrade's fanatstic save from less than five yards. However, the Blues fell napping and were ultimately made to pay moments later as they conceded the second on the night.
Zico gambled and threw on Romeo Fernandes alongside Sabeeth in place of Abranches and Haokip respectively. Fernandes immediately made his presence felt, with Jofre the chief architect of a fabulous through ball though the keeper rushed out and cleared in time. That was followed by another save from the keeper off Reinaldo, who had been set-up by Moura. By this time Zico threw on Jonathan Lucca.
Sabeeth then had an immense opportunity to score yet the custodian was on guard again to learn from past mistakes and deflect the opportunity. Zico began tinkering with his team and threw on Darryl Duffy, Luciano Sobrosa and Raju for Reinaldo, Lucio and Arnolin respectively.
Lucca came close to handing the Goans the lead after a fierce shot from distance, whilst Sabeeth was handed an opportunity on a platter but shot wide of the target. Duffy then tried to catch the keeper off guard with a 40 yarder, but the shot went well wide after furoius back-paddling by the man between the sticks. Andrade was then replaced with Kattimani as Zico tested his best second eleven.
However despite best efforts the game ended 2-2, with both teams sharing the spoils at Khor Fakkan.
