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FC Goa bowed out of this season’s Indian Super League as a brace by Sivasakthi Narayanan and a goal by Pablo Perez powered Bengaluru FC to a 3-1 win over the Gaurs, in the sides’ final league game at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Iker Guarrotxena scored his 11th goal of the season for the Gaurs, but in the end it offered them nothing but consolation.
Earlier in the day, FC Goa Head Coach Carlos Pela made just one change to the playing XI that started against Chennaiyin FC, as Devendra Murgaokar made way for Redeem Tlang. The Meghalayan forward responded with a series of attacks on the Bengaluru goal in the first half, thereby justifying his selection.
Despite enjoying more ball possession and starting the match on a strong note, the Gaurs conceded a shock lead in the 6th minute from a corner-kick. Sivasakthi, who was unmarked in the six-yard box made easy work of his chance as he headed past Dheeraj Singh to score for the Blues.
Pena’s boys, in turn, responded with renewed vigour, with Tlang, Noah Sadaoui and Iker Guarrotxena testing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu on several occasions.
Guarrotxena eventually restored parity on the scoresheet in the 33rd minute. Sadaoui directed a lovely cross at the far post area, which was then redirected into the net by the Spaniard with a glancing header.
The Men in Orange continued to create chances at will, but a lack of bite in the final third meant the scores remained level till half-time.
Following the change of ends, FC Goa continued to keep the ball for longer periods, and a major portion of the game was played in Bengaluru’s half.
But it was the Blues who regained their lead, with Sivasakthi finding the back of the net once again in the 76th minute. Replays indicate that the Tamil Nadu youngster was a touch offside while the final pass was played to him, but the goal stood to give Simon Grayson’s boys the upper hand.
Pablo Perez’s strike in the 82nd minute made the result a foregone conclusion, with BFC winning 3-1 at full-time. The defeat also brought FC Goa’s ISL 2022-23 campaign to an end, with the Club finishing in seventh place with 27 points from 20 games.
