BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
FATORDA
There were a flurry of chances in the match between arguably the two best teams - FC Goa and Bengaluru FC -- in their Indian Super League 2019-20 clash at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Monday, but at the end of the 90 minutes, the game ended in an exciting 1-1 draw.
The visiting Blues had the better of the opportunities, but their lack of teeth in the final third resulted in their second straight draw in as many games, which helped the home team salvage a last-gasp draw and put a halt to the streak of losses against Bengaluru FC, the most heartbreaking of them endured by the Gaurs in their previous meeting -- the final of the last edition.
At the post-match press conference, FC Goa gaffer Sergio Lobera said that at the end of the game, he was satisfied with a point in a game where Bengaluru FC called the shots. “I always want three points when my team plays, but when I realised that my team could not get the full points with the way they played, taking a point was good.”
With FC Goa getting the equaliser in stoppage time through a penalty, the Spanish tactician asserted that it was not a fortuitous share in spoils. “I don’t think we were lucky to get a goal through the penalty (90+2’, Corominas). Bengaluru may have dominated the first half for sure, but in the initial minutes post half-time, my team began to work well. We conceded a goal (62’, Udanta) and had some problems. They dominated the game but did not have clear chances. We had some chances too. Jackichand (Singh) came close (84’, shot/cross across goal) and eventually we scored through the penalty.”
The FC Goa head coach however conceded that the usual fluidity of their tiki taka system was missing and the absence of their foreign stars due to fitness issues was felt. “In the first half, we did not keep possession. We were playing in our own half. When we recovered the ball, there was a long distance between the lines and this made it difficult for us. Edu Bedia and Hugo Boumous are very good players for us and today we missed them during some periods of the match. It is true that as a coach I want my full squad available, not because some players are not working well (on field),” Lobera conceded.
If he considered an option at the half-way stage, bringing in Jackichand on the wing, with Brandon slotting in as attacking midfielder with Corominas as an attacker, Lobera agreed that could have been a good alternative. “It is an option. When we had (Ahmed) Jahouh for the game playing in central midfield, I needed either Len (Doungel) or Jacki on the bench. Manvir (Singh) worked well in the last match, Jacki too. I decided to play Coro as an attacker, with Manvir behind. They (Bengaluru) had Bheke and Juanan as two very good centre-backs. I thought I can use Jacki in the second half. As a coach, it is up to me to take the decision and I felt it was the best to start with Len, Manvir and Coro,”
Lobera explained.
FC Goa are currently top of the table after their second match with four points. Interestingly, they are only ahead of NorthEast FC and Mumbai City on goal-difference, teams they are up next in away fixtures in Guwahati on November 1 and at Mumbai Arena on November 7, respectively. The Gaurs then return home to play Jamshedpur FC on November 26.
