PANAJI
In his first match as Club captain, Brandon Fernandes made his mark early on with a goal within the opening 10 minutes whilst Edu Bedia scripted the final touches of the victory over hosts East Bengal FC at Kolkata with his last-minute winner.
Brandon’s goal in the seventh minute not only showcased his individual brilliance, but was also a glimpse into the potential as to how good the FC Goa attack can be in the days to come.
“It was indeed a special goal, and playing in front of fans made it all the more special. But beyond all this, I want to commend the team’s efforts. We fought hard and got what we deserved,” he said after the match.
“Now, we have to build on this good start. Everybody is working to the best of their abilities, to get better and stronger with each day.”
The other star of the night, Edu Bedia, was also quite ecstatic with the result with his 11th goal in the ISL that led to three crucial points to start the campaign.
“Today’s goal, just like the one in the Durand Cup final, gave us an important win as well, and ultimately that’s what matters the most,” the Spaniard stated following the game.
“The match was tough - but that’s always the case with season openers. There was slight nervousness within the team, but in the end, we saw a lot of positives too. We held on, played for the win till the final whistle and backed each other during tough phases. It's always very important to start off well. Last season, the three defeats to start the campaign took the winds out of our sail. We knew how important getting the win was.”
