FC Goa can take a lot of heart from the first half of its campaign, in which it didn’t lose a single game. It is second in the table with 24 points from 10 matches.
FC Goa was held to a 1- 1 draw by NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati as the first half of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023- 24 season came to an end tonight.
The unbeaten FC Goa set up an intriguing match in NorthEast United FC, which was seeking its first palm in six ISL matches. The Gaurs have lately been hit by the injury- ridden absence of their Spanish midfielder Victor Rodriguez, who with three pretensions and assists each, had an poignant run in its crusade therefore far. His departure needed someone from the team to step up temporarily at least, and those duties were carried out by Carlos Martinez, who had netted only doubly previous to this season.
But before his thing, the Highlanders had formerly been hit with a massive blow as their centre- reverse Michel Zabaco had to be stretchered out of the field after supposedly pulling up a muscle in the 14th nanosecond.
His absence created a peering hole in their backline, and Martinez jumped upon that by beating Asheer Akhtar in the air to meet a beautifully sculpted cross by Noah Sadaoui. Martinez slightly jounced the ball home and got his platoon ahead in the 20th nanosecond, in a move that was first set up by Raynier Fernandes and his pass to Noah at the edge of the box.
Anyhow of the recent run of barren results, Juan Pedro Benali has earned laurels for enabling his side to put up a fight every time they encounter a largely fancied opponent on the field. Parthib Gogoi had started the event emphatically, netting in three successive games from their first match onwards. still, his influence arguably slightly wore down as the crusade progressed but Benali didn’t lose faith in him and decided to shake effects up a bit to rediscover his optimal eventuality.
Tonight, he shifted him to the right hand and drew instant prices for the same. Getting once Jay Gupta, he coiled in an inch-perfect cross for his fellow forward Jithin M.S. The ultimate broke no sweat in chancing his way past the brace of Sandesh Jhingan and Odei Onaindia and forging the ball past goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh in the 26th minute. However, it was custodian Mirshad Michu’s turn to keep the scores position at the reverse, If Gogoi and Jithin starred outspoken.
Noah blazed his way through the NorthEast United FC backline and laid out a pass for the onrushing Carl McHugh. The protective midfielder shot from his first touch outside the 18- yard box, and Michu had to dive full stretch to keep his trouble at bay.
FC Goa head trainer Manolo Marquez was adamant about getting three points, and his host of negotiations that included the prolusions of Boris Singh, Paulo Retre, and Muhammed Nemil was aimed at grabbing hold of the fugitive winner. That didn’t come through, but FC Goa can take a lot of heart from the first half of its crusade, in which it didn’t lose a single game.
For the Highlanders, there’s a lot to play for in the alternate half of the season, after some encouraging displays in the last many months following a disappointing run in ISL 2022- 23 altogether. Know More Latest Football News…
