Goa: Igor Angulo and Ishan Pandita scored two late goals as FC Goa ended the year on a high with a 2-1 victory over Hyderabad FC on Wednesday (December 30) at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco. Aridane Santana scored the only goal for Hyderabad. Certainly, a happy moment for the Gaurs as they rise up to the third spot with this important victory.
The match was important for both sides as they wanted to finish the year with a victory. For Hyderabad, it was to get back into their winning ways and for the Gaurs, it was to maintain their winning run.
The match started with Hyderabad putting pressure on Goa as Manolo Marquez made some important tactical changes from their last match and his team was playing better football and was putting pressure on Goan defence. Angulo and Jorge Ortiz were finding it difficult to open up the Hyderabad defence and the first half ended in a stalemate.
In the second half, Hyderabad started to use the wings getting the lead in the 59th minute through captain Santana. It was a difficult time for Goa as they were finding it difficult to keep pace with the Hyderabad pressure but how can you stop such a strong team for a longer period.
Juan Ferrando made a masterclass substitution by bringing in Pandita in the 86th minute and the 22-year-old made his mark with the first touch by heading in the equaliser in the 87th minute.
The match opened up and stepped in their Spanish talisman Angulo, who scored the winner in the 90th minute and making two out of two for Goa and ended the year with an important victory for his side.
