FC Goa took a massive leap towards securing second place in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday night.
Carl McHugh’s first-half strike proved to be the difference as the Gaurs completed a league double over their rivals, having beaten them 2-1 at Fatorda earlier this season. The win – their fourth on the trot – also propels the Men in Orange to 45 points from 22 matches, meaning they now require just two more points from their remaining two league games to cement second place and a direct ticket to the semi-finals.
The game kicked off with FC Goa asserting early dominance, carving out opportunities through well-worked set-pieces. In the 5th minute, a training-ground move nearly paid off when Borja Herrera’s pinpoint corner found Udanta Singh lurking just inside the penalty box. The India international’s first-time strike had the goalkeeper stranded but fizzed just wide.
Five minutes later, another corner from Borja created chaos in Punjab’s defence. Skipper Odei Onaindia rose high to nod the ball into the centre, where Carl McHugh met it with a precise header. Only a brilliant reflex save from shot-stopper Muheet Shabir denied the Gaurs an early lead.
With Manolo Marquez’s boys enjoying the lion’s share of possession, the hosts were left chasing shadows. From time to time, they tried to counter through forward Luka Majcen, but Goa’s defensive duo of Onaindia and Sandesh Jhingan kept him on a tight leash.
Just when it seemed the first half would end goalless, McHugh struck. On the stroke of halftime, Udanta, playing his milestone 150th ISL game, delivered a well-timed pass to McHugh at the edge of the box. The Irishman’s deft first touch set him up perfectly for a left-footed shot that took a wicked deflection off Punjab’s Pramveer Singh before nestling into the far corner.
Goalkeeper Muheet was left wrong-footed, and FC Goa went into the break with a deserved lead.
The second half saw the hosts attempt to shift gears in search of an equaliser. Ricky Shabong and Ashis Pradhan both tested the Goa defence with long-range efforts, but neither could find a way past the ever-alert Hrithik Tiwari who wrapped up the night with his seventh clean-sheet of the campaign.
FC Goa, meanwhile, looked comfortable keeping the ball and playing it among themselves as much as they could. In the 67th minute, they could have put the game to bed when Borja’s clever delivery from a set piece found Armando Sadiku, had the Albanian striker been able to direct his effort on target.
Punjab FC threw everything forward in the dying minutes, with Tekcham Singh, Khaiminthang Lhungdim and Petros Giakoumakis all attempting shots from distance. However, their finishing lacked precision, and Goa’s defence stood tall to see out the victory.
With this result, FC Goa have put themselves firmly in control of their destiny. Two more points from their last two matches will confirm a second-place finish, ensuring a direct path to the semi-finals and avoiding the playoff round.
With confidence soaring and momentum firmly in their favour, the Men in Orange will now return to their fortress at Fatorda, where they take on Mohammedan SC next Tuesday.
