PANAJI: FC Goa prevailed over Sudeva Delhi FC 2-1, courtesy goals from Muhammed Nemil and Spaniard Jorge Ortiz Mendoza, to march into the quarter-finals of 130th Durand Cup; at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata on Monday. William scored from a penalty for Sudeva.
Goa maintained a 100% win record after two games, while Sudeva have now gone down in both their outings and are out of reckoning.
There were no clear-cut chances created in the first-half of the game although Sudeva did manage to get a couple of half-chances. Most of the Goa moves were happening from the right flank with Man of the Match Seriton Fernandes, Romario Jesuraj and Spaniard Alberto Noguera Ripoll combining well.
Just when one thought that the half would end goalless, Nemil unleashed a powerful left-footed curler from outside the box in the second and final minute of added time to beat keeper Sachin Jha comprehensively. It was a terrific strike and came from nowhere from a talented young midfielder.
Sudeva began the second-half on the front foot and were determined to equalise. They did create two chances within the first 10 minutes, but could not convert.
Coach Chencho Dorji affected the changes for Sudeva in search for an equaliser but the Delhi team suffered yet another setback losing first-choice keeper Sachin to injury.
FC Goa on the other hand, were going from strength to strength. In the 63rd minute Ripoll missed a relatively simple one on one with the Sudeva replacement keeper Legend Singh, hitting straight at him.
That would be his last contribution to the game as a minute later, Goa gaffer Juan Ferrando affected a triple change bringing in Ripoll’s fellow Spaniards Edu Bedia and Jorge Ortiz Mendoza along with Brison Fernandes to replace him besides Glan Martins and goal-scorer Nemil.
The change worked as Ortiz scored the second for Goa in the 80th minute with a shot from just outside the box which beat Legend, struck the underside of the crossbar and fell in before coming out.
Sudeva did manage a consolation very late in injury time when William Pauliankhum converted a spot kick thanks to a foul by Edu Bedia in the box.
