FC Goa continued their unbeaten run in the Indian Super League to 11 games as they defeated East Bengal FC 1-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, in South Goa. The hard-fought win propelled them to second place in the league table.
In the first half of the game, Manolo Marquez's men controlled possession, their fluid play energising the fans. East Bengal occasionally seized the ball but were unable to test goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari.
FC Goa struck early in the 13th minute through a clinically headed goal by Brison Fernandes, who is having a cracker of a season. Brison found himself in place for his 6th goal of ISL when it mattered. He took the leap and headed over goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill, who had charged off his line, only to be beaten and see the ball sail past him in the net.
The goal bolstered FC Goa. The first half completely belonged to them as they kept looking for more goals.
In the 35th minute, it would have been 2-0 when Iker Guarrotxena's shot from 30 yards beat Gill and hit the woodwork. Brison, who was close, reacted to the rebound from the post, but Gill redeemed himself with a superb save.
In the second half, East Bengal appeared rejuvenated as they relentlessly pushed for the equaliser, with their latest recruit, the Venezuelan Richard Celis, who made his debut in the ISL, leading the charge in attack.
Celis, who comes to India with his vast South American footballing action combined well with Brazilian Cleiton Oliveira, who came in as substitute.
Celis came dangerously close to scoring in the 67th minute but his shot from close range was parried away by goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari, who denied East Bengal the equaliser.
Till the drinks break, East Bengal made dangerous inroads into the Goan half through Celis and it looked like they would equalise. But Sandesh Jhingan, as always, stood like a rock defending well.
In the 75th minute, Armando Sadiku, who looked out of form, had a clear shot at goal when he received the ball from Brison, but he could not find the net from close range.
Goa looked to be in danger when Armando was red-carded for a rough tackle in added time of the second half. With Goa's one man down, East Bengal pressed for the equaliser but it wasn't their day.
It was a good Sunday for FC Goa fans, as they finally saw their team win after two agonising back-to-back draws with Hyderabad FC at home and North East United in Guwahati.
The victory sent the fans home buzzing with the hope of their team winning the ISL shield. But will FC Goa hold onto the winning momentum? The home game against Chennaiyin FC on January 25 will tell.