After a heart-breaking away loss to Jamshedpur FC, Goa bounced back with a resilient performance at home, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League on Thursday and gaining the second position in the league table.
Despite Goa’s strong start, Odisha mounted a serious challenge towards the end, making it a tense finish. However, Goa held their ground to claim the win, using their home advantage to emerge victorious.
Goa should have won with a bigger margin after Odisha's Ahmed Jahouh was red-carded in the 73rd minute reducing the team to 10 men.
FC Goa started the match with an attacking intent, showcasing their dominance from the very beginning. In the 3rd minute, Borja Herrera unleashed a powerful shot that Odisha FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh had to parry away for a corner.
Goa quickly built on this momentum, earning three corners within the first 10 minutes. Odisha, though not without threat, responded with occasional bursts forward, but Goa maintained control of the ball for most of the first 20 minutes.
The first real chance for Goa came in the 14th minute when Iker Guarrotxena’s right-footed shot from the left side of the box was saved by Odisha goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.
The evening saw Brison Fernandes looking sharp and his team showing good ball possession. In the 23rd minute, assisted by Iker Guarrotxena Brison had a bright chance, but his shot was saved by the Odisha goalkeeper. That could have been the breakthrough Goa needed.
A close scare followed in the 28th minute for Goa when Ahmed Jahouh’s free-kick brushed the crossbar, but the team quickly regained focus.
In the 29th minute, Goa made the much-needed breakthrough. Brison, who was positioned perfectly, latched onto a delightful cross from Borja and calmly tapped the ball into the net, giving Goa a well-deserved 1-0 lead. The game then entered the drinks break, with Goa looking the more dangerous side.
After the drinks break, Goa continued to dominate, but Odisha had a chance to level things up in the 37th minute when Diego Mauricio was brought down in the penalty box. A penalty was awarded, but Diego Mauricio’s shot was superbly saved by Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari.
In the first half, Goa were superior in all departments showing better passing accuracy, more shots on target, and creating more scoring opportunities. The team’s control and attacking intent were evident, leaving Odisha with a lot to do in the second half.
In the first half, Goa were superior in all departments showing better passing accuracy, more shots on target, and creating more scoring opportunities.
In the second half, too, Goa came out of the lemon break with intent, and it was Brison again who put them ahead in the 47th minute. His shot deflected off Odisha's Lalthathanga Khawlhring and found the back of the net, giving Goa a 2-0 lead. The team continued to look the better side early in the second half, pressing Odisha with sustained attacks.
However, in the 54th minute, Odisha pulled one back through an unmarked Rahul Kannoly, who took advantage of a defensive lapse by Goa. The space given to Kannoly allowed him to make a run towards the goal and score and make it 1-2.
Allowing Kannoly to have a free run was a clear defensive error from Goa, which allowed Odisha to get back into the game. Following the goal, Odisha seemed to grow in confidence, and their fight was evident as they began pushing forward.
In the 56th minute, Goa was denied what seemed like a clear penalty, and moments later, Borja's shot hit the woodwork. Goa then responded with a barrage of attacks, and Odisha appeared desperate to equalise.
After scoring his team's first goal, Rahul Kannoly forced a corner in the 61st minute, showing signs of Odisha's newfound threat. Goa continued to press forward but struggled to convert chances, as Odisha battled for an equaliser, with Savior Gama making a dangerous run into the penalty box.
Goa continued to press with the one-man advantage after Odisha's Ahmed Jahouh was sent off in the 73rd minute for his second yellow card after handling the ball.
The red card gave Goa a numerical advantage, and with Dejan Drazic returning from injury and Armando Sadiku being introduced after the second half drinks break, Goa aimed to capitalise on the situation.
Despite being down to 10 men, Odisha showed remarkable resilience, not giving up their search for an equaliser. Goa, however, should have taken greater advantage of their numerical superiority and should have sealed the game with at least one more goal.
Instead, Odisha kept creating chances, causing some nervy moments for Goa. At one point, Goa seemed to show signs of choking under pressure, with coach Manolo Marquez visibly frustrated on the sidelines, especially when the ball was passed back to the goalkeeper by Jhingan, a move that showed signs of complacency and lazy football.
The game remained intense, and as it drew to a close, the last corner saw Odisha’s goalkeeper coming up to the challenge, showing the urgency of equalising.
At one point, Goa seemed to show signs of choking under the pressure, with coach Manolo Marquez visibly frustrated on the sidelines, especially when the ball was passed back to the goalkeeper by Jhingan, a move that showed signs of complacency and lazy football.
Goa, despite having the advantage of an extra man, failed to finish the game with the comfort they should have, leaving the final stages tense and underscoring the pressure they faced.
Manolo's frustration on the sidelines was evident, reflecting his dissatisfaction with how his team was handling the match, especially considering the advantage they had.
Goa's next challenge comes on February 12, when they face Mumbai City FC in a crucial encounter. To keep their playoff hopes alive, they will need to show nerves of steel and deliver a performance full of resilience and determination. After 19 matches, Goa is on 36 points behind leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who are on 46 points.