NIRAJ PRABHU
FATORDA
ISL’s highest goal-scorer Ferran Corominas is a brilliant player in front of the rival goal as he has nerves of steel, apart from other skills, and it was the ultimate moment of brilliance from the Spanish striker in the 90th minute that salvaged a point for FC Goa in a match that Bengaluru FC appeared to have in the bag with four minutes of added time to play.
Sergio Lobera deep within would feel that his boys got out of the jail as they had not produced any quality that suggested FC Goa deserved anything at all from this match against the defending champions. And there they were celebrating the equaliser as if it was the winning goal. The result also meant that the Gaurs, known for their flair, had put in a scrappy display and earned a hard-fought point, showing their
mental fortitude.
In the other dugout, Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat seemed stunned and would be wondering if he had missed a trick by not pushing his side to add another goal to their tally as insurance, after the Blues had dominated the majority of the match by bossing the midfield. That apart, the Spanish coach believes that the mistake in the penalty area by the talented winger Ashique Kuruniyan so late into the encounter, will be a learning experience for the young India international.
To start with, FC Goa missed Edu Bedia and Hugo Boumous once again due to their injury problem and coach Lobera had to field seven Indians in the team in the match which he termed as a “difficult game”. Midfield general Ahmed Jahouh returned to the side after being suspended for the opening 3-0 home win against Chennaiyin with 8-Indian team and much was expected from the big Moroccan, who was the player with highest tackles and interceptions in ISL-5.
However, Lobera was in for a shock as the visitors produced a compact display in all areas of the game while FC Goa failed to produce even half the quality of their tiki-taka style football for majority of the match. Without Spanish central midfielder Bedia and Moroccan attacker Boumous, the Gaurs midfield failed to match their rivals, who with Raphael Augusto, Dimas Delgado, Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh and Ashique Kuruniyan bossed the attacking display.
Bengaluru though struggled for penetration and the final pass and the only goal they scored came through Udanta Singh due to a defensive mistake by left-back Mandar Rao Dessai. Apart from that error, the hosts scrapped for long period and hung in there with Mourtada Fall, Carlos Pena, Seriton Fernandes working hard.
For the hosts, Jahouh was not his usual influential self as he did not have the likes of Coro (playing behind Manvir Singh again) in his upfront position, while Boumous and Bedia were also not around for their mastery that provides the impetus to FC Goa’s tiki-taka show. Even Brandon Fernandes looked lacklustre on the left wing and Bengaluru ran down the Goan side until there was some resurgence at the fag end with Brandon in central midfield in Lenny Rodrigues’ position, while substitute Jackichand Singh took up the responsibility on the wing.
It was a frustrating night for the FC Goa fans numbering 17,773 to see their ‘uzzo’ just about flickering, rather than setting the fortress on fire like they usually enjoy. Nevertheless, they will travel home with a smile due to Coro’s 36th ISL goal that maintains their immense faith in the talismanic forward. After all, he is nicknamed ‘Scoro’!
