GOA:
FC Goa first meeting with former coach Juan Ferrando didn’t go to plan as FC Goa went down 2-1 to ATK Mohun Bagan tonight at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa as Liston Colaco and Roy Krishna struck for the Green and Maroon.
Jorge Ortiz, returning from a two-game suspension scored for the Gaurs late in the game. That, however, turned out to be not enough to spur on a late charge.
Derrick Pereira, in his second game as FC Goa rang in 3 changes as Jorge Ortiz, Muhammed Nemil and Dylan Fox came into the starting XI as Edu Bedia, Airam Cabrera and Mohamed Ali made way.
FC Goa got the first few chances to score, with Muhammed Nemil testing Amrinder Singh from the edge of the penalty box, before the impressive Devendra Murgaonkar nutmegged his marker Carl McHugh a few minutes later as Goa looked intent on making an early mark. Nemil’s shot was wide, while Amrinder had Murgaokar’s effort covered.
Despite a strong start to the contest, the Gaurs found themselves behind in the 23rd minute when Liston opened the scoring for the Mariners in devastating fashion as the winger-cum-forward struck a wicked ball that swerved and dipped to beat Dheeraj Singh in the FC Goa goal.
The Mariners doubled their lead in the second half, with Krishna firing home after finding himself in acres of space to shoot following a corner.
Later, an error from Amrinder Singh helped the Gaurs cut short their deficit. Ortiz’s weak left-footer was spilled by the ATKMB shot-stopper as the ball went into the net.
The Gaurs put up a valiant effort in the dying minutes. That, though, wasn’t enough for Derrick Pereira’s men.
The result meant that ATK Mohun Bagan moved to third on the points’ table with 14 points from eight matches. FC Goa, meanwhile, remain in eighth place, having secured 8 points from as many games.
FCG (Starting XI): Dheeraj Moirangthem (GK), Dylan Fox, Seriton Fernandes, Saviour Gama, Ivan Gonzalez (C), Aiban Dohling, Alberto Noguera, Princeton Rebello, Muhammed Nemil, Jorge Ortiz, Devendra Murgaonkar
ATK Mohun Bagan (Starting XI): Amrinder Singh (GK), Tiri, Ashutosh Mehta, Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal (C), Carl McHugh, Deepak Tangri, Hugo Boumous, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Roy Krishna.
