Goa : FC Goa conceded an equaliser on 89 minutes to finish with a 1-1 draw against Al Rayyan in the AFC Champions League at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on Monday (April 26).
By virtue of Al Wahda’s 1-0 victory over Persepolis FC just moments before this game, the Gaurs knew that they had lost the chance to qualify for the Round of 16 of the Champions League, but they still played for pride.
A glimpse of more familiar looking FC Goa side took to the pitch for this game, with key players such as captain Edu Bedia, Jorge Ortiz, Brandon Fernandes and Dheeraj Singh made return to the starting eleven.
Goa had guns blazing from the very start of the game as flew out of the blocks and took the lead just three minutes in. A long ball over the top from Brandon Fernandes, which wasn’t dealt with by the Al Rayyan back line, was pounced on by Jorge Ortiz. The Spaniard’s first attempt was thwarted by the onrushing keeper, Saud Al Hajiri, but the forward’s persistence and continuous attack paid off as he got first to the deflected ball before sliding the ball into the back of the net.
The backline of Goa has done well for most parts in the tournament up until this point, and Dheeraj was up for the challenge for some more just in the ninth minute. The in-form keeper made a point blank save from Yohan Boli and kept his team’s lead intact.
The hosts kept their opposition at bay for much of the first half, but another save was forced out of Dheeraj in the 40th minute, as a Boli free kick was punched away to safety and Goa neared a halftime lead.
As the match played out towards the end of the first half there was more drama, as an FC Goa counter attack saw Ishan Pandita released, and having seen the keeper off his line, the forward decided to shoot from distance. The shot, was saved comfortably by Al Hajiri, but was a clear indicator that the Gaurs had enough energy in the tank to play on the counter.
Ivan Gonzalez bailed his goalkeeper out just moments later, as he made an important tackle to stop a clear goal-scoring opportunity after some rare mix up at the back. A strong team effort saw the ISL side maintain a well earned halftime lead.
The Gaurs walked into the second half with renewed optimism and yet more of the same in terms of defending for FC Goa, with Dheeraj forced to close down Abdurrahman Al Korbi’s effort on 47 minutes by making himself big and stopped the chance in its tracks.
Goa looked untroubled for much of the half following this effort, and Glan Martins grew in influence as the game went on, even fashioned a great chance of his own on 72 minutes.
The midfielder found himself with time and space just outside the box, but his shot on goal flew over the bar. Seriton Fernandes, who had bombed forward down the right time and again did so one more time on 86 minutes and then danced his way into the box. The right-back, though failed to keep his composure at the crucial moment, allowing the Al Rayyan defence to steal the ball away
This moment of miss cost the Gaurs big time right at the end as Al Rayyan found an equaliser at the very end of normal time, in the 89th minute. This time it was a cross by Abdulaziz Hatem that was spilled momentarily by Dheeraj, allowing Ali Farydoon to react quickest and he smashed the ball home to make it 1-1.
It was heartbreak for a team that was on the verge of becoming India’s first ever side to win a game in the AFC Champions League, they tried to find a late winner, but Dheeraj was forced into one final save.
Deep into stoppage time, Khalid Muftah let fly with a stinging effort, but the valiant Dheeraj kept him out to ensure FC Goa leave with at least a point. It was a tremendous effort from the team in orange, and though they could not secure three points, a statement was surely made.
