MARGAO
The 4-3 result in favour of Sergio Lobera's boys tells the story of a tremendous football match, living to its billing as the El Classico of the ISL 4. The Gaurs also have a sensational forward who had stored his best for the bow at his team's home...Welcome Ferran Corominas, the stunner from Spain has now gone in the record books as the first scorer of a hat-trick in the ISL 4.
The 34-year-old former Spain youth international and Espanyol star has terrific fitness levels and great composure in the box. It was brilliant to see such class act go about his trade in a precise and decisive manner as Coro dribbled his way past four players inside the box and make India international first-choice Gurpreet Singh Sandhu a novice. All three goals had great quality and it takes his ISL tally to four, making Coro joint-top on goalscorers' list.
Coro has great knowledge of his compatriot Manuel Lanzarote's play while Edu Bedia also makes tremendous contribution, as the trio once again drove the Gaurs forward. Lanzarote, along with his silky touches and brilliant curlers, also showed his tricks of the trade while provoking young Indian goalie Gurpreet, who promptly bit the bait and let his team down being sent off in the first half.
Albert Roca's Bengaluru had looked more than a potent team before that calamity as FC Goa defence and goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani looked shaky. In fact, even after taking a two-goal lead over the 10-men Blues at half time, the visitors were allowed to level the scores around the hour mark. Lobera clearly has challenge on his hand and that is to bring in maturity in the back line and boost Kattimani's confidence.
The 18,600 fans were treated to a great entertainer, but one cannot brush aside the fear they have of Kattimani committing another howler under the bar. The sighs and boos were ringing loud in the stands whenever Kattimani would be called in action while building from the back and at times, when he would hold the regulation ball in a tight embrace, the claps were louder though.
