Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
FC Goa managed to fight off a second half comeback from Odisha FC to win 4-2 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in the Indian Super League (ISL).
FC Goa started with one change from the win against Kerala Blasters, with suspended Ahmed Jahouh making way for Edu Bedia in midfield, and the forced change seemed to pay off. Edu was comfortable playing in the heart of midfield alongside Lenny Rodrigues, and it got even better for the Spaniard early in the game.
After the Gaurs were awarded a free-kick, Edu stepped up and struck the ball towards goal, only to see it take a deflection off Vinit Rai and enter the back of the net.
That bit of luck was all that the visitors needed, as they pegged Odisha back and were two ahead within moments as Jackichand Singh’s effort evaded Coro and left the goalkeeper wrong footed. The ball went in once again for 2-0, and Odisha FC’s complaints for offside fell on deaf ears.
The home side hadn’t recovered from the onslaught and paid for a defending lapse once more, as a cross from the left from Hugo Boumous fell to Jacki, who made it 3-0. A dominant display in the first half for the Gaurs was complete, and they entered the break comfortably ahead in the game.
In their previous game against Kerala Blasters, FC Goa were in a similar position, leading 2-0 at the break, but they allowed the Tuskers to score two goals and get back into it, and a similar story unfolded at the Kalinga Stadium.
Odisha FC came out in the second half all guns blazing, and had their first goal through new striker Manuel Onwu, who found space between the two central defenders, and calmly guided his header past Mohammad Nawaz to pull one back.
Onwu had his and Odisha FC’s second some time later, as the Gaurs failed to negotiate a corner for two games in a row, allowing the striker too much space and time to score past Nawaz once more.
The shock of conceding two avoidable goals seemed to wake up the Goans, who then controlled the game a bit better and restored their two goal advantage late on.
A brilliant run from substitute Manvir Singh resulted in a cross that found Coro, who calmly slotted past keeper Francisco Dorronsoro to make it 4-2.
The goal secured a deserved yet nervous victory for FC Goa, and marked Coro’s 50th finish in the colours of the Gaurs, also taking the Men in Orange to the top of the ISL standings once more.
