Basil Sylvester Pinto
Laxmikant Kattimani -- wearing the captain's armband -- produced a sterling show under the Goa bar to thwart the marauding Highlanders. Interestingly, it was against the same side that the goalie had made a shambolic error in conceding their first goal in the 0-2 loss in their campaign opener. The error haunted the Dempo shot stopper for long and he eventually lost his place under the bar to Subhasish Roy Chowdhury. But on Friday, Kattimani was at the forefront with brilliant saves, parrying away dangerous strikes, punching away sharp goal-bound deliveries and in general, leading the side by example and from the front from the last line of defence which deservedly earned him the Man of the match award.
PANAJI
'Gaurs... don’t give up!' read one of the posters at the game which exemplified the fighting spirit of FC Goa when they were up against the odds. They have shown it before; they can always reproduce the magic again.
And this was very evident against NorthEast United FC on Friday where they overturned the fortunes at home where they had lost their first three games, to put a brick into the wall in the rebuilding phase of their Fatorda Fortress with a fighting 2-1 win.
With injuries and suspensions declining their herd in the numbers, particularly their foreigners, FC Goa played to the circumstances rather than on merit to field nine Indians and two foreigners in Rafael Coelho and Trindade Goncalves in their starting XI. A look at the bench indicated their plight. Four domestic players on the bench; two of them goalkeepers and the other two defenders, one with a susceptible calf injury.
Stepping up the plate were the poster boys of the side on either flanks. Mandar Rao Desai manouevered some delightful plays and was in the thick of action while Romeo Fernandes' tireless efforts in the striking zone impacted the outcome in his side’s favour. Trindade Goncalves looked quite effective as well and Rafael Coelho continued his fine showing upfront but found little support. The other Indians, barring Robin Singh who walked on ostrich legs, looked in to chip in their mite with their backs to the wall in the tourney.
For NorthEast, Katsumi Yusa was a constant threat from set pieces but the Japanese medio sorely missed his goal-mining suspended partner Emiliano Alfaro as Nicolas Velez returned from injury but failed to grab a few good opportunities. While NorthEast dominated in attack, ball possession and shots on goal in the first session, their clinical finishing and absence of Alfaro was strongly felt. In the second session, FC Goa had less of the chances but made most of it to earn the vital three points.
The start of the last quarter of regulation time saw two tactical moves effected from either side. With FC Goa midfielder Sahil Tavora receiving his second yellow in the game in the 72nd minute, winger Mandar was substituted for defender Fulganco Cardozo. While for NorthEast, their off-colour captain, Didier Zokora was substituted for the Indian forward, Summet Passi. The reasons were but obvious. While the Highlanders looked to capitalize with the numerical advantage at the score leveled at 1-1, the Gaurs looked to restore solidity in the back-wall yet press for a necessary win at the given opportunity to stay afloat in the wallowy waters they find themselves in.
Between the two goals the Gaurs scored, the equalizer and the winner in the deep end of stoppage time ironically the players involved were the same. While Romeo provided a delightful cross into the box after beating defender Holicharan Narzary, Robin Singh slotted home to restore parity at the turn of the hour. In the fag end, into stoppage time Robin who looked at redemption played the only good move, a thorough ball from midfield which found Romeo at the right place at the right time in the box to smack the ball into the back of the nets.
In reply to a question posed by The Goan at the post-match press conference to the situation wherein he had to field largely Indian players in the Starting XI and if this is the way to go in the ISL, FC Goa gaffer had this to say. “It is necessary for the development of Indian football, it is better to have more domestic footballers on field. “We (ISL) have to follow other countries of Asia which field more local players rather than foreigners. But to me, when I field my starting XI, I do not look at their nationality, but the best available XI to be on the ground,” he stated.
FC Goa despite the win stay rooted at the bottom of the table after ten games with as many points. They have two more games to play at home before they go Northwards. The Gaurs play Mumbai City FC on November 16 at Fatorda.
