PANAJI
A friendly which was meant to be a closed door affair for the exception of the media opened entry to the local fans that trickled in numbers as the game progressed and the word spread around.
Much as one would expect a riveting contest between a reputed national club and the regional ISL franchise it turned ugly for most parts of the game with the visiting side's players getting into unnecessary squabbles while the hosts maintained the decorum of the game.
FC Goa playing their first friendly at home after a pre-season trip to Spain went down fighting to East Bengal 1-2 at Athletics Stadium, Bambolim on Friday.
In the first half, the visiting Kolkata side looked a more organised unit while the home team were still trying to strike a rhythm within their selves in moving forward. By the 10th minute, East Bengal went ahead when a beautifully directed corner by Katsumi Yusa was headed in by a well-positioned Brandon into
the Gaurs nets.
The Japanese player was in action again midway into the half when his through ball found a team-mate advancing into the attacking third. Alerted by the imminent danger, FC Goa custodian Laxmikant Kattimani came off his line to collect the ball in a timely intervention.
FC Goa's Spanish player Manuel Lanzarote was looking the part on the left flank with good efforts on target from a corner or otherwise. FC Goa could have had a golden chance to level scores by the 33rd minute, if not for a refereeing gaffe with FC Goa forward Manvir Singh fouled inside the top end of the rival box, denying the home team a penalty strike. Lanzarote was in thick of things constantly while the East Bengal custodian stood tall in goal essaying one fine save after the other. At half-time, FC Goa
trailed 0-1.
Post resumption, a barrage of raids ensued with FC Goa sitting in the rival half for a considerable length of time but the Kolkata club giants were obdurate to not buckle under the pressure. As the game moved towards the closing stages, Manvir muffed a sitter but soon after made amends. Brandon Fernandes on the left wing sold a dummy to measure a pass to Manvir who slotted it home. But the joy of the FC Goa fans was short-lived as, two minutes later, East Bengal's Charles scored from an acute angle, beating the reserve FC Goa custodian Naveen Kumar.
