DELHI: FC Goa staged a marvellous second-half recovery to outwit Delhi Dynamos 3-2 and top the Hero Indian Super League table at the end of the concluding league clash in Delhi on Sunday (December 6, 2015).
Serginho Greene (31st minute) and Adil Nabi (40th) had given Delhi Dynamos a 2-0 lead in the first half but FC Goa turned the tables with a fine display in the second part with substitute Hero-of-the-Match Romeo Fernandes scoring two quick goals in the 68th and 69th minute while Jofre Gonzalez scored the match-winner in the final minute of play.
The win helped FC Goa top the league table with 25 points, ahead of Atletico de Kolkata who finished second with 23 points. Delhi Dynamos are placed fourth with Chennaiyin FC third, both having the same number of points.
FC Goa now will play Delhi Dynamos in Delhi again for the first leg of semi-finals on 11th December 2015, and will have the luxury of playing the crucial and decisive second leg in front of the 19000 plus home fans at Fatorda. On the other-hand, Atletico de Kolkata will take on Chennaiyin FC on 12th December 2015 in the other semi-final.
Delhi Dynamos marquee player-manager Roberto Carlos made seven changes to his side, largely with an eye on the semi-finals where he would need fresh players. That, however, did not seem to impact the team as the hosts raced to a 2-0 lead in the first session with FC Goa looking completely out of place.
The opening goal came in the 31st minute as Florent Malouda turned provider again when his free-kick that was whipped across goal was headed home by Greene from close range. Delhi Dynamos seemed to be in the driver’s seat nine minutes later as Adil Nabi doubled the lead. Richard Gadze had done well to hold on to the ball inside the box despite some fierce opposition and then played the ball into the path of Nabi, who finished the move with ease past FC Goa goalkeeper Elinton Andrade.
FC Goa were helpless in the opening 45 minutes but turned things around after the break. Romeo Fernandes got his first goal in the ISL this season in the 68th minute and sparked FC Goa’s revival. It was a trademark Romeo goal who cut inside on his left foot and then hammered an unstoppable shot at goal that brushed goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh’s hands and sailed into the net.
A minute later, Goa drew level, this time Romeo making a fine run on the right to meet Reinaldo Oliveira’s inch-perfect cross after Jofre had done well to split the defence.
Both teams went close towards the ending stages of the match in search of the match-winner but Goa had the last laugh in the 90th minute. A through ball from Jonatan Lucca saw Jofre beat the offside trap, leave the onrushing goalkeeper for dead and finish calmly to give Goa a huge boost ahead of the semi-final battles.
(Picture and report courtesy ISL).
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