FC Goa extended their unbeaten run in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) to 13 games, with a well-deserved 1-0 win over LiFFA Trivandrum at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Tuesday.
The only goal of the game came in the 58th minute from defender Nikhil Prabhu. It was also Prabhu’s first strike ever in the colours of FC Goa, after having joined the Club in January this year.
After Goa won a free-kick in their final third, Lalremruata HP chipped the ball for Prabhu and Leewan Castanha, who had made early runs. It was Castanha who got the initial touch of the ball, before it fell into his teammate’s path – which he then slotted the ball calmly past the goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.
This win was the Young Gaurs’ third in a row in the Bengaluru Group of the RFDL National Group Stage, following victories against Sreenidi Deccan FC and Kerala Blasters. Deggie Cardozo’s boys now have nine points from three matches, thereby maintaining their position at the top of the table.
The Boys in Orange will now take on Bengaluru FC in their next match on May 5th, at the same venue.
The Blues are hot on the heels of the Gaurs on the points table, currently in second with six points from two matches. This, in turn, means that the upcoming clash between both the teams will serve as a decider for who qualifies to the RFDL semi-finals from the Bengaluru Group.
With a must-win situation to ensure their place in the last-four, FC Goa will be eager to continue their impressive form and secure their fourth consecutive win in the RFDL National Group Stage when they take on BFC on Friday.
