NIRAJ PRABHU
FATORDA
FC Goa’s winning run at home, lasting for three games, came to an end with Bengaluru FC scoring a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the hosts at Fatorda on Thursday.
It was billed to be a feisty and an open affair due to their penchant for attacking football and it followed the predicted outline, but the 17,807 partisan fans would have left disappointed with the loss for their beloved Gaurs. Nevertheless for neutrals though, the FC Goa-Bengaluru FC match-up presents a mouthwatering footballing spectacle although tonight’s affair failed to rise to a special status due to unavailability of some of the special talents on both sides “ fast rising to talismanic status for Sergio Lobera’s side, Edu Bedia could not start due to a niggle while powerful forward Miku in particular missed out for the visitors due to an ankle problem.
Sunil Chhetri impact
Sunil Chhetri returned to action after an ankle injury and created an instant impact with a clinical finish with a header from left side of the six-yard box off Udanta Singh’s cross from right, to win it for Carles Cuadrat’s side. Sunil was in his elements all through the night with his well-timed runs, and brought in all his experience into play. Had it not been a valiant display by FC Goa’s young goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz, Chhetri could have had a hat-trick to his credit. At times, the 34-year-old India captain occupied perfect positions but seemed frustrated not to have received instant attention and service from his team-mates, who on their run took one touch too many more often than not.
Midfield supremacy
Bengaluru FC midfield seemed to be more in control than their counterparts and decisive movements by Francisco Marcos Hernandez in central while Udanta Singh on right flank, provided a big challenge for FC Goa, who however lacked a bit of steel in their engine room due to unavailability of experienced Edu Bedia due to a niggle. The Blues are definitely a squad with a fantastic bench as even the absence of injured Erik Paartalu and Miku, did not seem to have affected them much.
Mohamed Ali sent off
FC Goa defender Mohamed Ali committed a glaring error soon after the interval when he committed a blatant handball outside the penalty area on right flank to prevent Hernandez from getting into a goal-scoring area. The young central defender was booked in the first half for a reckless challenge and his brain fade moment early in the second half, resulted in the marching orders leaving the Gaurs down to 10 men and trailing by a goal. Ali’s error was a setback to start the second session as Sergio Lobera’s team could not build steam in pursuit of the equaliser as they had to regroup in the backline.
Missed chances at fag end
FC Goa had two great chances towards the closing stages of the match when Hugo Boumous failed to tap home a skidding cross from Ferran Corominas. Boumous appeared to have got into a tangle with his feet and a rival defender in close proximity inside the six-yard box, when any sort of contact with that pass, would have beaten Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from point blank range. Soon after, substitute Manvir Singh’s strike from the top of the penalty area went a foot and half, wide of the far post.
Compact Bengaluru
Bengaluru FC do look to be a compact side and their strength in depth as well as experienced players in all departments, make the South Indian team a champion material in making due to their settled look. The talent on the field and clinical execution of the plans, makes the Blues a compelling side to follow in the Indian Super League. They were the top team in the regular season last year by a proverbial mile and have the similar look this time as well. For all the buzz and flair about them, FC Goa have a weakness in defence in particular. Now with Ali red-carded and midfielder Hugo Boumous facing suspension for the next game due to accumulation of yellow cards, coach Sergio Lobera will have to tweak the combination for the next outing against Manuel Lanzarote’s ATK on November 28 in Kolkata.
Draw would have been fair result: Lobera
FATORDA: FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera feels that mistakes at the fag end in not taking the chances cost his side a point as a draw would have been a fair result. His counterpart Carles Cuadrat was very happy with the result.
“To concede a goal soon after the team had scored the equaliser, made it difficult to come back. However, we had opportunities in the stoppage time to secure a draw and we failed to take the chances. I think a draw would have been a fair result as it was an open game with both sides going for it,” said Lobera, who however lamented the fact that Edu Bedia could not overcome an undisclosed injury problem in time to start the match.
“As a top professional Edu was trying hard to overcome his niggle that he has been carrying since last two training sessions. We waited till the last moment, but we could not start him,” the Spanish tactician added.
Bengaluru coach Carles Cuadrat praised Sunil Chhetri’s clinical execution in scoring the winning goal and also highlighted the contribution of opening goal scorer Rahul Bheke, for his attacking potential from right-back position.
