FC Goa needed to win big in their last match against Chennaiyin FC. They did, but it was not enough and they had to come back from a goal down to finish 4-1 winners in a game that witnessed the visitors playing with ten men from the 35th minute onwards.
Despite the margin of the win, FC Goa finished with the same number of points as Mohun Bagan – who play their last game against table toppers Mumbai City FC on Monday – and have an outside chance of finishing second if Bagan lose as the former have a better head-to-head count.
The last match at the Fatorda stadium started with the visitors cushioning the ball better – showing more rush and purpose. Despite the hosts enjoying possession, Chennaiyin had purpose and it resulted in a goal when the game was 13 minutes old.
Rahim Ali who was a thorn until they were a player down, was fed through and he let go a shot that breezed past FC Goa keeper Dheeraj Singh with the latter, unable to even try a half-hearted block.
The early goal left the Chennaiyin players on a buoy and three minutes later, Ali came close to scoring again but his header kissed the horizontal before going out of play. This time, too, Dheeraj looked stranded.
Chennaiyin FC played with better anticipation and speed and more purpose in the first half and that differentiated the two teams – a difference that saw the visitors leading by a goal and coming close twice.
Three minutes after the half-hour mark, FC Goa equalised and five minutes later they earned a penalty and saw their rivals reduced to ten men and therein began the switch.
FC Goa equalised through a goal scored by Borja when he was sliced a ball neatly by Seriton Fernandes who has had a rather quiet season. Carlos Martinez stepped up to take the penalty in the 38th minute and he hit the post in his first attempt.
However, after the linesman raised the flag, for Chennaiyin FC keeper Samik Mitra disturbing the first take, he converted the second time. For Chennaiyin, being down after being up was not the problem. Playing with ten men was.
FC Goa enjoyed clear domination right through the remaining part of the game and as the match wore on, the number of goals scored by the hosts mattered as it would determine their ultimate standing and whether they would have to play to qualify for the semi-finals or would get a direct berth.
FC Goa scored one goal in the second session and could have scored more but at times they missed or did not draw the Chennaiyin boys out in order to penetrate their defense.
Despite enjoying numerical advantage, FC Goa preferred long rangers during the first quarter of the second session and none of those attempts were close to goal with the Chennaiyin keeper gauging the flight of the ball.
With FC Goa all over, Chennaiyin just had half a smell of the rival goal in the second session but substitute Jordan Murray saw his effort sail over and with that, the inevitable came to end.
