PANJIM:
FC Goa put on a stunning display to blank a ten-man FC Pune City 4-0 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, keeping their first clean sheet of the tournament. Manuel Lanzarote opened the scoring in the 28th minute from the penalty spot, sending Vishal Kaith the wrong way. The Gaurs did well to keep the home side out in the first period, taking a 1-0 lead into the break. The men in white came out all guns blazing in the second period and doubled their lead through Hugo Boumous in the 47th minute. Two became three in the 58th minute when Ferran Corominas ran through on goal and netted a superb goal at the far post. He then stepped up to take the Gaurs’ second penalty, slotting it past Kaith once more after Sarthak Golui handled Mandar Rao Dessai’s 65th minute cross. Pune skipper Marcelinho was sent off for his second yellow after a poor foul on Pronay in the 80th minute.
It was a good start for the Gaurs who pressed from the start in a must win game. They kept the ball well in midfield and pressurized the home side. Lanzarote had the first chance in the match when he cut back from the right flank on to his left foot and curled an effort at Vishal Kaith’s goal. However, the shot lacked any power and Kaith collected easily. Pune had a chance in the 11th minute when Lanzarote fouled Marcelinho near the byline on the left side. The Brazilian stepped up and curled an indirect free kick towards the far post where Sahil Panwar rose highest to head goalwards. However, the ball ricocheted off the upright and deflected out of play.
Lanzarote had another opportunity to give his side the lead in the 19th minute after the Gaurs were awarded a free kick in a promising position. The Spaniard’s curled effort flew inches wide of the near post. The Gaurs were pouring forward at every opportunity in a bid to take the lead but the final ball was lacking. In the 25th minute, neat play between Coro and Seriton Fernandes saw the former play the latter through with a superb ball. The full back charged into the box and hit a low cross towards Boumous who charged into the box but the ball was cleared in time. Three minutes later though, the Gaurs were ahead. This time Coro was played in down the right and the Spaniard put in another low ball towards the young Moroccan midfielder who was taken out by Adil Khan in his attempt to hit the ball. The referee pointed to the spot immediately. Lanzarote stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give the men in white an important lead.
The home side began to put pressure on the Goans after going a goal down. Goa were struggling to keep the Stallions in check as Marcelinho troubled the defence on a number of occasions. The Brazilian could have restored parity to proceedings in the 41st minute after Diego Carlos passed the ball to him inside the box. He let the ball come to his preferred left foot and released a superb low shot aimed at the far post. However, Naveen Kumar got down quickly to make the stop. As the half petered to a close, the Gaurs should have had another goal. With Pune bombing forward, they were prone to the counter-attack and Coro almost hurt them with the clock running down quickly. Coro received the ball in midfield and charged forward. Boumous made a run along the left flank, received a pass from the Spaniard and then put in a superb low ball. Coro got to the ball and hit a shot goalwards but the shot was blocked by Kaith to keep the deficit down to only one. At the other end, Pune could have had an equalizer from Diego Carlos’ shot from the right side of the box but his shot was blocked. Not long after, the referee called time on a frenetic first period.
Sergio’s men came out firing on all cylinders in the second period and should have doubled their lead within a minute of the restart. The Gaurs charged down the middle, Boumous made a superb run through the lines, took the ball, ran to the byline and then cut back on to his stronger right foot. He then dinked a superb ball towards Lanzarote who was three yards from goal. The Spaniard however, hit his shot straight at Kaith as the chance went begging. It should have been the second and Pune got a massive let off. A few seconds later, Boumous struck the post with a thunderous shot from just outside the box. The early pressure finally paid off for the Gaurs. Coro received the ball in the box and kept his calm to square the ball for Boumous who ran into the box. The Moroccan dodged the challenge of a defender and calmly slotted the ball into the net with his left foot from a few yards out.
The Gaurs continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded once more. A superb flowing move saw Boumous flick on a scintillating ball into space for Coro to run on to. The Spaniard showed superb pace to get to the ball, charge into the box and then shoot the ball into the net at the far post. Pune were struggling to keep pace with the Goans and the defence was constantly under pressure. Mandar Rao Dessai should have made it 4-0 in the 61st minute after Coro threaded a stunning through ball for the Goan winger. Vishal Kaith however, came running off his line and the Goan tried to chip him but couldn’t get enough elevation to beat the keeper.
The Gaurs did however, make it 4 not long after when Mandar was played through on the left once again. His attempted cross came off the hand of Sarthak Golui and the referee pointed to the spot once again. This time Coro stepped up and smashed his penalty past Kaith who dived the right way but couldn’t get a hand on the ball. The Gaurs had stepped up a level and were attacking with supreme prowess while Ranko Popovic’s men were struggling to contain them.
Things went from bad to worse for the Maharashtrian side after Marcelinho’s poor foul on Pronay in the 80th minute. The referee pulled out a second yellow and sent the Brazilian off without hesitation. The Gaurs exercised caution in a bid to keep their first clean sheet of the tournament and kept possession, moving the ball around well. With a man down, the Stallions weren’t able to get the ball off the Goans and chances were far and few as FC Goa protected their lead vigorously and ended the game with their first clean sheet.
