Kolkata: An injury-time free-kick from Eduardo Bedia Pelaez help FC Goa beat host East Bengal 2-1. The Gaurs start their Indian Super League (ISL) 9 campaign with a winning note, at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
Brandon Fernandes provided FC Goa with the lead in the first half. However, Cleiton Silva equalised for East Bengal with a penalty midway through the second half. Edu Bedia stole the match for FC Goa with a long range free-kick in the last minute of the added time.
FC Goa took control from the start and got the goal in the seventh minute off a fine build-up from the left. Aibanbha Dohling started the attack with a through pass for Alvaro Vazquez. The Spanish forward put a cross to an onrushing Brandon Fernandes. The Goan midfielder cleared their former centre-back Ivan Gonzalez with a fine touch and placed the ball past Kamaljit Singh in the East Bengal goal.
FC Goa got another chance to double the lead in the 20th minute. However, Redeem Tlang failed to find the target after getting a cross from Brandon. East Bengal struggled the first half and was lucky enough to restrict Goa with one goal lead till the break.
East Bengal made two changes during the break, brought Sarthak Golui and Naorem Mahesh Singh for Sumeet Passi and Tuhin Das.
V. P. Suhair earned a penalty in the 63rd when he was brought down by the Goa goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh. Singh ended up body checking Suhair as he got clear inside the box following a cross from Jerry Lalrinzuala. Cleiton Silva converted the scope into an equaliser in the next minute.
In the end, Bedia’s superb free-kick convert in stoppage time proved to be the game’s difference maker when it appeared like the game would conclude in a draw.
