MATCH REPORT: Drama, goals, controversies as FC Goa had the last laugh against Bengaluru FC
IT HAD EVERYTHING. A hat-trick, a red card and another possible red. Seven goals to end the game of high drama. FC Goa ended Bengaluru’s 100% win in the ISL by beating them 4-3.
It was a steady start from both teams, low on pace but tactical show of football from both. Physical battle between the players saw many free kicks being awarded and kept the referee and his pocket busy throughout the game. Coro struck first for the home team in the sixteenth minute. Miku got Bengaluru FC level after five minutes.
Rahul Bheke picked up a yellow from the referee. Just past half an hour the action unfolded. Coro scored his second for the night. In the 36th minute, a 50-50 ball in the box between Lanzarote and Gurpreet ended ugly. Gurpreet appeared to have struck Lanza and he went down, rolling on the floor cupping his face. The referee rushed to the spot and showed Gurpreet a direct red card. While the replays suggested that Lanza had stamped Gurpreet’s leg before drawing the reaction from the keeper.
Rahul Bheke was sacrificed to bring on keeper Abhra Mondal. The referee awarded a penalty for the foul on Lanza. The victim of the foul himself stepped up and converted the penalty taking FC Goa’s lead to 3 goals against BFC’s one goal.
The half ended at 3-1. One instance in the second half saw Coro being flagged offside as he picked up through from Brandon. Bengaluru came in the game as Erik leaped high to meet Edu’s ball and pulled one goal closer to the lead. FC Goa were in real trouble as the forward of BFC kept pressing them. The away team got their reward and Miku made the most of Mandar’s lack of concentration on the ball.
The Federation Cup champion’s joy was short lived as Coro got his hat-trick. Bengaluru had a momentary lapse as the Coro moved in really sharp to get past the defence and Mondal for the FC Goa’s fourth and final goal of the game.
There was more to the game remaining as Mondal rushed outside his box in order dispossess Arana was into space and the lone man near the Bengaluru box. Abhra won the ball but had handled the ball in the process. It could have been a red card as it was a clear goal scoring opportunity denied by unfair means but the referee saved BFC the blushes and showed only a yellow to the substitute keeper. The resulting free kick from the edge of the box hit BFC’s crossbar and rebounded out. Multiple players but mainly Khabra, Bose and Pronay got into a scuffle. That was the end to a game filled with drama, goals and controversies.
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