MARGAO
Playing their last friendly at home ahead of their ISL campaign, FC Goa registered a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Chennai City FC in front of a sizeable home crowd at Athletics Stadium, Bambolim on Sunday.
Save for a tentative opening few minutes where the opposition was all over them, the Gaurs controlled the game right to the final whistle. Mandar Rao Dessai scored a brace, netting either side of half-time before Brandon Fernandes and Liston Colaco added the third and fourth to make it an easy stroll.
The Gaurs' first chance came in the fifth minute when Manuel Lanzarote sent a chipped ball from midfield to Mandar Rao Dessai on the left wing, whose ensuing cross to Manuel Arana was directed with a header on goal which was intercepted by the rival goalkeeper. Few minutes hence, Edu Bedia made two good plays one after the other. First, a through ball to Brandon shaped ominously upfront and another fine delivery sent into the box did not see the attacker get to the end of the ball to head home.
At the half hour mark, Lanzarote had the Chennai citadel caught napping when his pass to Mandar had the fleet-footed local winger dart into to the rival box to slot the ball between the Chennai keeper's legs and into the nets. On the 40th minute, FC Goa goalkeeper Naveen Kumar took a sharp hold onto the ball from a strike fair distance out by Chennai City's M Lucky. An Arana assist in stoppage time was intercepted within the six-yard rival box by Brandon whose headed glance missed the far post.
FC Goa came out much stronger in the second session and brought in four changes with six internationals on field. Bruno Pinheiro, Sergio Juste, Amey Ranawade and Liston Colaco took to the field for the Gaurs.
Early into the latter half, Brandon's rasping strike was palmed away by the Chennai custodian to a corner. FC Goa were soon to double their lead when Mandar capitalised on a pinpoint pass from Bruno Pinheiro that split the Chennai defence with their keeper having no option but to commit himself to come off his line but to no avail.
FC Goa's third goal came minutes later when a rasping Mandar effort was finished by Brandon in front of the goal-mouth. Twenty minutes into the half, Coro missed a header from up close. Few minutes on, substitute Anthony De Souza who replaced Edu Bedia moments earlier sent a beautiful delivery from the left wing to birthday boy Liston, who gleefully accepted his present to tap it home to make it 4-0 for the home side.
In the last quarter the Sergio Lobera-helmed side rang in several changes to test their young domestic players within the squad.
