PANJIM:
FC Goa were denied yet another clean sheet as Nigerian striker Kalu Uche struck late to cancel out Hugo Boumous’ effort as both teams shared the spoils in a fiery encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. Substitute goalkeeper Arnab Das produced a scintillating save deep into stoppage time to prevent Coro from adding to his tally and scoring a winner as the Gaurs’ chances of qualification to the knockout stage grew slimmer.
It could have been the perfect start for the Dynamos after former Gaur Manuel Arana received a ball from another former Gaur. The Spaniard then played a neat give and go with Kalu Uche who threaded a superb through ball to Arana. The midfielder trapped the ball well but under pressure, poked it straight at Naveen Kumar who made the stop. At the other end, Mandar Rao Dessai cut in from the right wing and hit a shot towards the near post. However, the shot lacked any venom and Xabier Irueta stopped it with ease. Brandon Fernandes had the next chance at goal after he intercepted a pass in the 6th minute and took a shot from just outside the box. The shot however, flew over the crossbar.
The Gaurs were dominating the ball in midfield and pushing forward at every opportunity in the hope of finding the opener. New signing Hugo Boumous looked lively in his first start for the club and attempted to force the issue on a number of occasions with a few good runs forward. However, it was Brandon who could have given his side the lead in the 21st minute. The Goan played Ferran Corominas through down the right side. The Spaniard took the ball well, darted into the box and attempted to pull the ball back on to his left foot but couldn’t control it. The ball took a deflection and fell kindly for Brandon who took a first time shot with his left foot but couldn’t find the near post. Five minutes later, Mandar missed a gilt edged chance to give Goa the lead. Boumous found the run of the winger with a good ball down the right flank. Mandar showed good pace to get on to the end of it, cut the ball back on to his stronger left foot but hit the shot straight at Xabier who accepted it with glee. Coro made space for himself two yards out and could have tapped it into an empty net had the winger squared the ball for him.
A couple of minutes later, Mirabaje played Romeo through down the right. The speedy winger got to the byline and put in a dangerous low ball in the direction of Uche who made the run forward. Ali Mohammad however, got in the way to deflect the ball away from the run of the Nigerian. Hugo had a chance in the 36th minute after Coro played the Moroccan through. However, a good tackle inside the box halted his run as the chance went begging. As the half wore on, the Gaurs looked the likelier of the two sides to take the lead. However, the final ball was still missing. The visitors were struggling to keep pace with the hosts and constantly had to rely on attacking the Gaurs on the counter. With time running out, neither side was able to break the deadlock as the referee called for time on proceedings.
The visitors could have taken an early lead in the second period after Gabriel Cichero found the run of Romeo on the right with a peach of a long ball. The Goan ran down the flank, cut into the box and played the ball back towards Arana. However, Ali read the play and intercepted the pass to avert danger. Goa’s possession and pressure finally paid off in the 54th minute with a superb solo effort. Boumous received a pass from Edu in the centre of the park, slalomed his way past the Delhi defence and took a right footed shot aimed at the far post. The ball however, deflected off the back of Cichero and flew into the net at the opposite post, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot as Fatorda erupted in celebration. The visitors were under pressure immediately to find an equalizer and looked to push forward at every chance.
The hosts could have doubled their lead in the 62nd minute. Hugo showed urgency as he looked to get forward, played a neat 1-2 with Coro and darted forward. However, under pressure he cut the ball back. Coro continued his run forward, nicked the ball and ran into the box. However, Xabier came rushing out to get a hand to Coro’s left footed shot to keep the deficit down to only one. The Dynamos reacted by taking off Xabier Irueta and bringing on Arnab Das to add an extra foreigner in the outfield. Thereafter, Jeroen Lumu came on for Rowilson Rodrigues.
With Delhi looking to attack at every opportunity, it gave the Gaurs more space in forward areas. In the 75th minute, Edu sent Coro through down the right. The striker raced into the box, ran towards the byline and shot the ball which flew dangerously across the face of goal. Unfortunately for the Goans, there was no one there to tap it into the goal. Delhi could have pulled it back in the 78th minute when a defensive mistake by the Gaurs almost cost them. Sergio Juste’s attempted pass to Boumous wasn’t accurate enough and Uche stole the ball and threaded a through pass for Lallianzuala Changte who struck a fierce shot at Naveen’s goal. However, the ball hit the side netting, giving the Gaurs a massive let off.
The pressure from the away side finally paid off in the 82nd minute. Sloppy passing from the Gaurs saw Lumu take the ball in midfield and thread a stunning pass to Changte who darted into the box and found the run of Uche with a low cross. The Nigerian made no mistake from a few yards out to deny the Gaurs yet another clean sheet. From the restart, Mandar had another opportunity to give his side the lead after he was played through, but he delayed his shot and the chance was lost. The winger had yet another chance in the 88th minute when Hugo played him through. Mandar got on to the end of the pass in a good area but hit his shot wide. Coro could have given the Gaurs a late, late winner when he collected a deflected ball and unleashed an effort at the far post. Arnab Das however, got in the way to make a stunning save. Sifneos was also presented with a chance in the 94th minute but skewed his shot wide from inside the box. Not long after, the referee called for time on proceedings.
