BOX
The first Sunday of the league was an extreme high for the Gaurs who went on to beat Delhi Dynamos 2-0 but what followed next was tantalising. A 1-1 draw against title holders Atletico de Kolkata was perhaps a "back-down-to-earth" moment for the Goan franchise who were expected to win that contest as emotions ran high after the resounding win in the stunning opener at Fatorda Stadium.
Well, that was that. But what followed after the Wednesday night draw was a Sunday horror and Zico was humbled by Materazzi's Chennaiyin FC. The four-goal drubbing would have compelled the Brazilian legend to get back to the drawing board and do some thorough introspection.
Sudhakar Shanbhag
Panaji
The opening week of the Indian Super League was certainly a mixed bag for FC Goa. Not only were the outcomes skewed, Zico & Co tasted all three possible results the game could produce.And, all this happened in a span of one week.
The first Sunday of the league was an extreme high for the Gaurs who went on to beat Delhi Dynamos 2-0 but what followed next was tantalising. A 1-1 draw against title holders Atletico de Kolkata was perhaps a "back-down-to-earth" moment for the Goan franchise who were expected to win that contest as emotions ran high after the resounding win in the stunning opener at Fatorda Stadium.
Well, that was that. But what followed after the Wednesday night draw was a Sunday horror and Zico was humbled by Materazzi's Chennaiyin FC. The four-goal drubbing would have compelled the Brazilian legend to get back to the drawing board and do some thorough introspection.
Three back to back home games and that too in a span of one week could be taxing to any team. But that's part and parcel of modern profession and excuses find no room to justify results. What the bosses want is performance and that's what is expected out of teams who ride on millions and players are supposed to churn out results suited to the local demands.
What's happened so far is history. With all the three possible results - a win, draw and loss - under his belt, Zico would certainly be feeling that his team would now regroup and start afresh. At least, it would give the Gaurs a reality check and allow them an opportunity to get the right boxes ticked ahead of their first away game against bottom-rungers NorthEast United in Guwahati on Thursday.
Yes, NorthEast are at loss to explain their twin defeats in the first two rounds of action that has seen them suffer away defeats to Kerala Blasters (3-1) and FC Pune City (1-0) with Velez being their only scorer in 180 minutes of action.
But that does not undermine NorthEast's striking prowess and the Highlanders would be all set to challenge the Gaurs at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
FC Goa would be a bit low on confidence and understandably so after the terrible shaking they endured against Chennai, who had suffered successive defeats before they knocked the Goans off their feet. But tough teams are built not in a day or a week but after enduring the season's grind that eventually lands them rewards. And mind you more than anybody else in the team, it would be Zico who would have been the most hurt after the reversal against Chennaiyin last match. It was the legend himself who had stated before the start of the tournament that he had taken upon himself to ensure Goa would aim for the title. Oh yes, the title is far off but the zeal in Zico's men remains to conquer their immediate frontier and that's in the North-East. Watch out you FC Goa fans!
