FC Goa sealed a 2-1 victory over Mohun Bagan in matchday 13 fixture of the Indian Super League 2024-25 on Friday at the Fatorda Stadium. (Match Highlights | More Football News)
Brison Fernandes stole the show with a stunning brace, leading the Gaurs t﷽o a well-deserved win despite only 41.4% of the ball. With this they extend their unbeaten run to seven games and mark their longest goalscoring run at home in the league with 12 games. This defeated ended the Mariners 12-match unbeaten streak.
The Gaurs opened their goal tally in the 12th minute with a stroke of luck. The young winger Brison Fernandes went head-on against Asish Rai on the left flank before unleashing his shot. However, the ball took a deflection off Tom Aldred's boot, diverting it into the net and catching goalkeeper Vishal Kaith off-guard.
However, Mohun Bagan still had more poss⛄ession of the ball, controlling the midfield.
But the Gaurs held firm with Brison and Mohammed Yasir's work in the wide areas. In♕ the second half, Dimitrios Petratos made Bagan's first shot on target levelling the game 1-1 in the 55th minute with the help of Manvir Singh's brilliant cross from the right flank in the box converting the penalty into score.
They had earned the penalty after Goa's Armando Sadikꦫu handled the ball in the box🅰 following Petratos’ cross.
The Mariners piled up more pressure at the start of the second half with Sahal Abdul Samad pulling the trigger from outside the box after the FC Goa defence cleared away Petratos’ freekick.
However, after conceding the g✨oal, the hosts started pushing more bജodies forward and created some chances
In the 64th minute, Sadiku was unmarked in th𓄧e box but he failed to make a proper connection. Four minutes later, Brison completed his brace from a similar opportunity as he headed the ball home following a beautiful cross from Borja.
The Mariners almost came up with an immediate retaliation but Jamie Maclaren fai🐠led to reach Manvir’s cross from a quick counte🍷r-attack.
In the 74th minute, Manolo Marquez shuffled things up in attack with Iker Guarrotxena and Udanta Singh replacing Borja and Yasir.
Guarrotxena a🦩lmost became the super sub for the Gaurs as he combined with Sadiku in a well-worked counterattack.
The Spaniard found himself in space but his eventual effort was saved by Kaith. Later, Manolo brought on Dejan Drazic and Ayush Chꦛhetri to hold on to the lead.
Meanwhile, Molina’s last throw of the dice was bringing on Suhail ꧅Bhat in place of Lalengmawia Ralte in search of a late equaliser.
The visitors had enough chances butꦜ they weren’t clinical enough in front of goal, suffering their second defeat of the season.
Now, FC Goa will resume action on January 4, 202🐟5 agaཧinst Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan will face Punjab FC on December 26, 2024.
(With PTI inputs)
