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FC Goa fought back from a goal down again to secure another point, this time against SC East Bengal. The Gaurs thus finish their three-game tour of the Tilak Maidan with seven points.
East Bengal was reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute after Danny Fox was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Romario Jesuraj. The Red and Gold though got their necks ahead with a brilliant solo goal from Bright Enobakhare. Their joys though would be shortlived as super-sub Devendra Murgaokar brought FC Goa back into the game the very next minute with his very first goal in the ISL.
FC Goa head coach Juan Ferrando made only one change from the team that started the game against Hyderabad FC. Out went the experienced Lenny Rodrigues and in came the young Princeton Rebello in a like-for-like switch.
Robbie Fowler, meanwhile, named five changes to the side that helped record SC East Bengal’s maiden victory in the ISL against Odisha FC in their last game.
The Gaurs were the fastest off the block in the game and nearly went ahead in the 5th minute of the game courtesy James Donachie. A free-kick whipped in from the left by Brandon Fernandes was met firmly by the Australian, forcing Debjit Mazumdar in the East Bengal goal to come up with a spectacular save to keep the sides at level pegging.
The ‘home’ side’s first big chance of the game came in the 28th minute when Raju Gaikwad’s long throw to the back post was met by an onrushing Danny Fox. The Scot though failed to keep his header on target.
FC Goa kept the pressure up in the opening 45 and it took five more saves from Debjit Majumder to keep the scores level, going into the break. The Red and Gold themselves had opportunities of their own from set-pieces but couldn’t really test Mohammad Nawaz in the Goa goal.
The Gaurs were off the mark right from the start in the second half. A ball from Princeton to the left was beautifully taken down by Ortiz on the left flank before taking off on another of his rampaging runs. The winger cut inside brilliantly before unleashing a shot on goal. And it was Debjit again to the rescue of East Bengal.
The 55th minute of the game added another dynamic to the game as Fox was given a straight red for a rough tackle on Romario Jesuraj.
Matti Steinmann got the next big opportunity in the game. The East Bengal midfielder though wasn’t able to keep his attempt on target after running nearly half the length of the pitch.
East Bengal struck first in the 79th minute when Bright Enobakhare scored a brilliant goal, swivelling past four players before slotting it past the keeper in one of the best goals of ISL-7.
The Gaurs though came roaring back and scored within a couple of minutes to draw things level. A cross from Saviour Gama on the left found substitute Devendra Murgaokar in the box, who got the better of Jacques Maghoma and nodded it from point-blank range to make it 1-1.
FC Goa then threw the kitchen sink at the Red and Gold but a combination of bad luck and last-ditch defending from the ‘home’ side saw the game end in a stalemate.
The point helps FC Goa remain on third spot on the table with 15 points from 10 games. The Gaurs will be back in action on January 14 when they take on Jamshedpur FC at the Fatorda Stadium. That game is scheduled for a 7:30pm IST kickoff.
