Kuwait : FC Goa squandered a first-half lead as they began their AFC Challenge League 2026-27 campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in Hawally, Kuwait on Saturday.
Chiki (8’) gave FC Goa an early lead in the first half and the Indian club led 1-0 for most of the match before a late second-half brace by Faridun Davlatov (85’, 90’) gave Regar-TadAZ the win and all three points.
FC Goa made the perfect start, taking the lead in the eighth minute when Chiki collected the ball in the middle of the box and fired past goalkeeper Severin Takam.
Regar-TadAZ threatened an equaliser but Manuel Mbollo blazed an effort over the crossbar from the edge of the box before Nozim Babajanov’s near-post strike was dealt with by custodian Jackson Raj.
At the other end, Jorge Ortiz came close to doubling Goa’s lead in the 21st minute with a long-range effort from 30 yards that sailed just over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, the Spaniard broke through on goal but was denied by Ndongo Foe’s last-ditch challenge as the Gaurs took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Regar-TadAZ continued to press and levelled the score in the 85th minute after Abdurakhmon Nozimov picked out Faridun Davlatov, who unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner.
The pair combined again in the 90th minute to complete the turnaround, as Davlatov powered Nozimov’s corner past the Goa defence with a thumping header to seal a 2-1 victory.
The Gaurs will face Bangladesh’s Fortis FC in their second Group C match on Tuesday. Kuwait’s Qadsia SC are the other team in the group.
FC Goa, the reigning Super Cup champions, entered the AFC Challenge League after losing 3-0 to Turkmenistan’s FK Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage qualifier.
In the West region, the three group winners and the best-ranked runner-up across the groups will advance to the quarter-finals. In the East region, both the group winners and runners-up will progress to the last eight.
