MARGAO
Goa would look to improve their performance when they take on Arunachal Pradesh in their Group III clash of 76th National Championship for Santosh Trophy in Assam on Sunday.
Goa are second in the group with four points from two matches behind Nagaland who have six points from their two wins. Norberto Gonsalves' men bounced back after trailing 0-2 against Uttar Pradesh at halftime and managed to produce a 2-2 draw. Striker Stendly Fernandes, the hero of the opening win against Assam, missed the second match owing to a wrist injury.
"Tomorrow's game will be a competitive contest and the team that can convert their opportunities will win," Goa coach Gonsalves said. "Our style of attacking play will not change. Players have minor injuries but there is no time to complain. We will go ahead and make up for the mistakes the team made against Uttar Pradesh.
"The Arunachal Pradesh game is crucial for us, and we will consider it as a do-or-die match," Gonsalves remarked. "We want to beat Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow and stay in the reckoning to progress to the main round."
The Goa coach revealed that striker Stendly Fernandes is available for selection after missing the Uttar Pradesh game.
