PANAJI
MARGAO: FC Goa suffered their first defeat of the season as Bengaluru FC edged past them 2-0 at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda. The Goan side, coming off three consecutive draws, were unable to capitalize on home advantage and now face a slip in the ISL points table.
The match got off to a nightmare start for the Gaurs when veteran Bengaluru striker Sunil Chhetri scored inside three minutes. FC Goa dominated possession for much of the game, holding the ball 58% of the time and spending significant periods in the attacking half, but their efforts repeatedly faltered against Bengaluru’s resilient defense.
Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu proved a major obstacle, pulling off crucial saves in the first half to deny FC Goa several scoring opportunities. Despite creating chances, the hosts could not find the breakthrough, leaving their fans frustrated.
FC Goa’s hopes were finally extinguished in injury time when Namgyal Bhutia doubled Bengaluru’s lead in the second minute of added time. The 26-year-old midfielder scored his first goal of the season, sealing the victory for the visitors.
The loss leaves FC Goa with 11 points and facing a climb back up the table, while Bengaluru FC leapfrogged to fourth, tied on points with Mumbai City FC, Mohun Bagan, and Jamshedpur, but ahead on goal difference.
