Bhubaneswar: FC Goa defeated Odisha FC by 4-2 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday night. The Gaurs are third in the table with 25 points now and have extended their unbeaten streak in away matches to seven games. Odisha FC are now winless in their 11 face-offs in the league with the Gaurs.
Brison Fernandes, who scored twice in a match for the second straight time, kicked off the game strongly for the visitors, as he combined with Iker Guarrotxena inside the box to pounce upon the Odisha FC backline that had given them ample space to attempt a shot right through the centre. Iker got the ball inside the box but lost possession to Mourtada Fall. The Odisha FC defender took a heavy touch, resulting in the ball landing in Brison’s path. The FC Goa player controlled the ball with his chest, before getting it down and drilling it into the bottom right corner to open the scoring in the eighth minute.
The Juggernauts struck back with Jerry Lalrinzuala drawing a foul inside the penalty box. This was Jerry’s 150th appearance in the ISL, making him only the 10th player to do so in the league. His effort yielded immediate returns for the Juggernauts. Ahmed Jahouh stepped up on the spot, pulling off a panenka-style penalty, which hit the high centre of the goal, completely catching goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari off-guard, and equalised the score in the 29th minute.
FC Goa recouped their lead in the added time of the first half. It came as a result of a piercing move by the Gaurs, with Iker again playing an indirect role in the goal. He cut into the inside channel of the left flank, pulling the entire attention of the Odisha FC defensive unit. His shot was thus obstructed, but the home side didn’t clear it properly, with the ball landing in Udanta Singh’s feet on the right flank. He nestled it into the bottom right corner with absolute ease, following an impeccable touch to control the ball to take the 2-1 lead.
The Gaurs added to their tally with a fantastic solo effort in the 53rd minute. Brison received the ball from defender Sandesh Jhingan as the team looked to break forward. Brison turned around, and showed quick footwork, before shooting the ball into the top right corner from the outside of the box, bagging his brace.
FC Goa capitalised on this momentum, with their frontline momentarily assuming a free-flowing role to exploit further openings in the Odisha FC defence. Iker switched to the right, and as had been the case earlier in the match, drew multiple Odisha FC players towards him inside the box. He tried sending in a cross for the unmarked Brison on the opposite end, but the delivery was sent inside the net by Amey Ranawade in the 56th minute, resulting in an own goal in the name of the defender.
Odisha FC encountered a few opportunities to strike back, but they left it too late to cut the deficit. They grabbed their second goal of the game through a header by Jerry Mawihmingthanga, who converted a cross by Thoiba Singh from the left side of the six-yard box. Jerry’s shot hit the bottom left corner from an extremely close distance, but the home side couldn’t muster up these chances at the right time as the Gaurs walked away with the three points from this match.
FC Goa will be playing Hyderabad FC on January 8 whereas Odisha FC will play their next game against Chennaiyin FC on January 9.
