FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC took home a point each after a dramatic 2-2 draw in their Indian Super League (ISL) clash on Thursday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. The result leaves the Gaurs in eighth place on the league standings, with six points and only a single win from six matches.
Earlier in the day, Goa’s head coach Manolo Marquez made just one change to his starting XI from their last match against Mumbai City FC, with Dejan Drazic coming in for Armando Sadiku.
The game started brightly for the Men in Orange, as Brison Fernandes tested Chennaiyin’s goalkeeper in the 4th minute with a powerful shot from the centre of the box, following an excellent cross from Udanta Singh. However, it was the hosts who then drew first blood in the 11th minute, capitalising on a defensive mistake by Jay Gupta. Wilmar Jordán pounced on an inadequately cleared ball and slotted it home from close range to score the opening goal of the match.
At the other end, Brison continued to probe for FC Goa, forcing another save from the Chennaiyin goalkeeper in the 14th minute. A further setback came when Borja Herrera had to be substituted off in the 32nd minute due to an injury, with Sadiku coming on in his place.
Despite these challenges, the Gaurs found the equaliser just before halftime. Udanta Singh rose high in the 45th minute to meet a pinpoint cross from Aakash Sangwan, heading it powerfully into the top right corner to level the score at 1-1.
The second half began with Goa seizing the momentum. Drazic earned a penalty after being fouled in the box, and Sadiku made no mistake from the spot, putting his team 2-1 up in the 51st minute. This goal marked Sadiku’s sixth of the season, also making him the first FC Goa player to score in five consecutive ISL matches.
Chennaiyin, however, were not done. They found an equaliser in controversial fashion in the 79th minute when Daniel Chima’s header, following a cross from Connor Shields, was ruled to have crossed the goal line despite FC Goa goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani appearing to keep the ball out. Replays suggested the decision was questionable, but the goal stood.
FC Goa pushed for a winner, with Carl McHugh coming close in the 87th minute with a header that narrowly missed the target. In stoppage time, Kattimani produced a stunning save to deny Chima’s header, ensuring the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Gaurs will now return to Fatorda for their next assignment, taking on table-toppers Bengaluru FC on Saturday, November 2, at 7:30 pm.
