FC Goa showcased their dominance once again with a thrilling 2-0 victory over Chennaiyin FC at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Saturday.
The Gaurs, spurred on by a raucous home crowd right from kick-off, delivered a.scintillating performance that saw them consolidate their second position on the.Indian Super League (ISL) table with 33 points from 17 matches, inching closer to league leaders Mohun Bagan.
The game began with Goa firing on all cylinders, setting the tone for an electrifying evening. With the referee blowing his whistle to signal the start of proceedings, the hosts wasted no time in testing Chennaiyin’s defence.
Just four minutes in, Boris Singh came tantalisingly close with a shot that whizzed past the far post after a brilliant buildup play involving Rowllin Borges, Brison Fernandes and Aakash Sangwan.
A minute later, Borja Herrera’s attempt to capitalise on a defensive lapse was denied by a goal-line clearance, keeping the visitors in the game.
FC Goa’s relentless pressure finally paid off in the 11th minute. A corner from Borja was partially cleared, only for Boris to whip in a dangerous cross. Chennaiyin goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz, under pressure, failed to hold onto the ball after a collision with a teammate.
Brison pounced on the loose ball and struck the post, but Iker Guarrotxena was at hand to calmly slot home the rebound, registering his third goal of the season and giving his team a deserved lead.
FC Goa then doubled their advantage in the 26th minute, courtesy of Aakash Sangwan. Carl McHugh’s exquisite long ball from midfield found the left-back in stride. Aakash controlled the ball deftly before firing past Nawaz from a tight angle, scoring his first goal in FC Goa colours against his former club.
The first half could have seen more goals for the home side, with Rowllin Borges and Iker both coming close. However, Chennaiyin managed to keep the deficit to two as the half-time whistle blew.
Following the change of ends, FC Goa continued their dominance, though the intensity of their attacks dipped slightly. Iker and Borja combined well to create chances, but Chennaiyin’s defence managed to hold firm. In the 69th minute, Farukh Choudhary had a rare chance for Chennaiyin, but his shot sailed over the bar, summing up their frustrating night.
Late in the match, Aakash and substitute Muhammed Nemil both came close to adding a third for the Gaurs, but Nawaz denied them with some fine saves.
Chennaiyin tried to push forward in the final minutes, with both Connor Shields and Daniel Chima missing opportunities to reduce the deficit.
The victory not only kept FC Goa’s title hopes alive but also extended their unbeaten.run to 12 matches. With 33 points, they now trail leaders Mohun Bagan by just four points, keeping the race for the ISL League Shield wide open.
The Men in Orange will next face Jamshedpur FC away on Sunday, February 2.
