Goa: FC Goa qualified as the fourth team to enter the Indian Super League play-offs after their deciding match against Hyderabad FC ended 0-0 at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday. This has been their sixth qualification to the playoffs in seven seasons.
The match started well for the Nizams but they lacked a potential no. 9 like Aridane Santana who missed out this battle for injury so all their attacks were missed out at the Goa box.
Goa on the other hand were playing more of a counter-attacking football and was looking to not concede a cheap goal. They have given away many points from winning position and was determined to keep the Hyderabadi attacks away.
Hyderabad could have scored after Ivan Gonzalez saved an open goal in the dying minutes of the second half and even goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh saved a back flick of Adil Khan in the stoppage time.
Certainly, Goa would be proud of their performance to qualify for the playoffs in a stop-start season which unlike their game. Hyderabad would be disappointed after playing so well throughout the season with so many young Indian players and yet missing out on the match in the last lap.
