FC Goa’s brave fight fell short as Al-Nassr claim a 2-1 victory in closely contested encounter
Margao
At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, FC Goa hosted Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr in a Group D encounter of the AFC Champions League Two. The visitors claimed a 2–1 victory, but the night will be remembered for a historic moment in Indian football.
Al Nassr started strongly, dominating possession and territory from the opening whistle. They took the lead in the 10th minute through Angelo Gabriel, before Haroune Camara doubled the advantage in the 27th minute to make it 0–2.
Despite the setback, FC Goa showed resilience. In the 31st minute, Brison Fernandes—last season’s ISL Emerging Player of the Year—pulled one back in style, becoming the first ever Indian player to score in the AFC Champions League Two. With that strike, FC Goa also became the first Indian club to find the net in the history of the ACL 2 Group Stage, marking a significant milestone for Indian football on the continental stage.
Goa opted for a 5-4-1 setup, aiming to stay compact and hit on the counter, while Al Nassr’s 3-5-2 formation allowed them to control midfield spaces and dictate the tempo. The statistical gap was evident: Al Nassr registered 18 shots with four on target, while Goa managed only two attempts and none on target aside from the goal.
Though the Gaurs showed determination and moments of promise, Al Nassr maintained control and held on to secure all three points.
FC Goa will now gear up to face Al Nassr once again in the reverse fixture on November 5th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
