FC Goa overcome tunnel red card chaos to enter final

MARGAO

It was an extraordinary and chaotic start to the second AIFF Super Cup semifinal — confusing for onlookers and unwelcome for FC Goa.

In an unprecedented moment, FC Goa captain Iker Guarrotxena was shown a red card in the tunnel before kickoff against Mumbai City FC at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao on Thursday.

Match referee Pratik Mondal dismissed the skipper for dissent, forcing coach Manolo Márquez to rip up his original game plan before the match even began.

Yet, from that point onward, everything went Goa’s way. The home side capitalised on Mumbai’s costly errors and held its nerve to win 2–1, booking a place in the final to the delight of a roaring local crowd.

After a quiet opening, substitute Javier Siverio, who replaced the suspended Guarrotxena, nearly lit up the stadium when his long-range strike crashed against the post. Moments later, Goa found its breakthrough. A slip from Tiri allowed Brison Fernandes to latch onto Borja Herrera’s cross and smash a first-time volley into the roof of the net.

The hosts doubled their lead barely two minutes later. A miscued clearance from Bijay Chhetri sat up perfectly for midfielder David Timor, whose long-range effort was spilled into the net by goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa, prompting a rare early smile from Márquez.

Mumbai City, however, refused to fade away. Jorge Pereyra Díaz struck the crossbar just before halftime, and early in the second half, Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari brought down Díaz to concede a penalty — only for Lallianzuala Chhangte to blaze it over.

Mumbai finally pulled one back in the 59th minute through Brandon Fernandes, linking expertly with Díaz before finishing calmly. But after picking up a knock, Brandon was replaced, and Mumbai City’s attacking fluency dipped.

Goa held firm despite late pressure, with Tiwari producing crucial saves from Ortiz and Díaz to preserve the lead. The defending champion will now face East Bengal in Sunday’s final — though without its suspended captain Guarrotxena.