Goa: FC Goa impressed yet again as they keeping another clean sheet holding Al Wahda to a 0-0 draw at the Fatorda Stadium in the AFC Champions League. This was more of an open game than the tournament opener for the Gaurs, as they brought displayed quite a few moments of brilliance on both sides of the field to eke out the result.
However, it is only fair to think that they deserved more with Brandon Fernandes hitting the upright and also Devendra Murgaokar forcing the Al Wahda keeper into a fantastic save. Juan Ferrando named an unchanged eleven from the side that started the first game of the tournament against Al Rayyan, hoping for a similar or better result.
As the game commenced, FC Goa threatened straight away, with Ishan Pandita making contact from a header following a cross from the left flank. Although his effort wasn’t as precise as the one he would have been looking for. The early signs though were surely positive for the home team.
Al Wahda eventually grew into the half, mounting their first big threat on 23 minutes when Fares Juma headed a corner towards goal, but Dheeraj Singh looked comfortable as he held and Goa absorbed the pressure.
Jorge Ortiz fired one from distance just five minutes later, but his shot was well over the bar and caused no trouble for Al Wahda. The visitors’ efforts did force a couple of more saves from Dheeraj before the end of the first half, first by Khalil Ibrahim and then Tim Matavz taking aim from just inside the box. Dheeraj came out trump on both occasions to keep it even even-steven heading into the break.
In the second half, the Gaurs came out with more gusto and also created a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 54th minute of the match. The introduction of Murgaonkar from the bench had been crucial and made all the difference as his good work finally set up a shot for Brandon Fernandes, but his fierce effort struck the post instead of nestling into the bottom corner.
It was a huge let-off for Al Wahda, who took the game to the Gaurs soon after, with Omar Khirbin’s header from point-blank range was saved by Dheeraj in the 66th minute. But FC Goa were in no mood to relent, Devendra wreaked havoc inside the Emirati side’s penalty box, nearly made it 1-0 in the 73rd minute.
A lovely ball in from Brandon down the right found the former Salgaocar man, but the effort from his outstretched leg forced a good save from Al Wahda goalkeeper Mohamed Al Shamsi.
At the other end of the pitch, Dheeraj’s heroics continued as he first saved a free-kick from opposition captain Ismail Matar in the 78th minute, and then kept out two late efforts in stoppage time to bring his team a point.
The young goalkeeper first saved brilliantly from Omar Khirbin on 90 minutes, and Seriton Fernandes partnered for the next save when he blocked the follow-up shot from Lee Myung-joo. Just four minutes later, Dheeraj punched the air in delight as he once again kept out a header from Omar right at the end, from a sloppy giveaway of possession.
The Gaurs next aim is to take on Iranian giants Persepolis on Tuesday (April 20) at the Fatorda.
