ISL 2017: Key talking points from FC Goa's 4-3 win over Bengaluru FC

FC GOA kicked off their home campaign with an important win that should galvanize its fan base and generate good momentum going into their next game against Kerala. Going back to yesterday, the game was a great advert for fantastic goals where it literally turned into a showdown between Coro and Nico with some great individual goals sandwiched between some rank bad defending and head scratching referee decisions that had a direct bearing on the outcome the game.

Going in to the game, Bengaluru started as clear favourites and set out with clear mandate to aggressively press FC Goa much higher up the pitch resulting in the game’s first foul with hardly 34 secs clocked when Garcia fouled Bruno on a possession. Bengaluru notched up two set pieces in quick succession, Garcia continuing to impress as the best executer on delivery off a dead ball in the ISL but Goa did well to avert the danger on those occasions. I had touched upon how crucial the crowd support going into the game would be and got to see rather two extreme sides of it. Beginning with the fouls, Bengaluru kept notching through the constant press they were applying on the Goan players. With each foul, the crowd got more in it.

From here, as a rival team you either develop a siege mentality of us against them that can be self inflictive or you keep your composure and do what you do best. But in Bengaluru’s case it seemed the former as they lost focus and shape with each foul.

Crucially for FC Goa, the first goal came via some good work by Brandon on the right linking up well with Edu who found Coro with a precise diagonal and Coro with superb ball control and skill got past two defenders before executing a lovely finish for his goal. It is never easy to shoot it when you run across and shoot on the turn.

Being 1-0 up, Bengaluru Coach Roca finally had enough and descended to the edge of this technical area urging his side to maintain their shape and get in to the game. While this was being sorted, we got to experience the other side of the crowd support albeit some sections of it rather disappointingly may I add. Goa with the goal advantages focused on ball possession and moving it across but when the ball reached GK Katti, there was incessant howling and jeering. If I could pause
it right here and send a message to those who did jeer, these actions on your own players are not in any way constructive whatsoever. It will only put pressure on a GK who is already low on confidence.

Kattimani has had criticism come his way for past errors and supporters have a right to their own opinion but when the Coach selects his team, the fans need to support the team through and then voice the discontent if any after the game is over. What some need to understand is that the GK plays a key in ball possession style of play where you pass from the back. For example, when a high press is applied on the right back by a winger, his team mate usually the forward will close on the
right centre back to block a pass, so it’s the GK who helps or bails him out to receive the pass but also switch the passage from play from the right to left.

But once the crowd pressure came in, Katti instead of passing it and switching flanks started kicking it long which played straight into Bengaluru’s hands with their height advantage in midfield. Possession was conceded in the bargain which gave FC Bengaluru the much needed impetus to get back in to the game. And this is where FC Goa’s weakness on the left flank first showed up. Nico in a swift pass & move with Paartalu drew his marker Ali out of position and in a quick change of pace jolted in to the empty space to slot the equaliser past Katti. It could have been much worse when Nico again finding space on the Goa’s left flank found Udanta on the cross who couldn’t direct his header on goal. If that went in than at 2-2, we would be talking something else.

FC Bengaluru was clearly in the ascendency here but against the run of play, Coro won a free kick just inside the circle. A well worked training ground routine saw Lanza find Bruno with a head down to Coro who with the fantastic control and shot put Goa ahead and release a lot of pressure. The marking by Rodrigues on Coro may I add was rank bad.

The game most controversial moment would follow soon after when the referee awarded a highly contentious penalty for an off the ball altercation between Gurpreet and Lanza. As far as my knowledge in the game goes to make it simple as I can if a player impedes or denies an opposition player from a clear goal scoring opportunity at a point of impact then it’s a penalty but when the possession is already retrieved following an incident occurs than that should be reprimanded only by the relevant caution or sending off. It was a double blow that just about killed the game at that point; Lanzo put the penalty away with Goa comfortably placed at 2 goal advantage.

Coming out in the 2 nd half though I was a little miffed by Goa’s tactics with a whole 45 minutes to play, they were a little bit too cautious. And again in another quick move, Bengaluru found space on Goa’s left flank with Udanta finding space behind Narayan and Ali, put in a good cross to Nico who couldn’t quite get it on goal with a back heel. Bengaluru capitalising on a poor ensuing goal kick by Katti managed to pound Goa’s citadel with a Chhetri effort which stung the palms of Katti but there
wasn’t any letting back in the following corner, the Garcia to Potti combination pulling one back got Bengaluru. And while FC Goa defense were still dusting themselves off, Nico was able to sell a dummy off Ali and again calm composed, slot in another high class finish this a time a dink over the goal keeper.

With the game perilously poised considering the one man advantage, Coro took it upon himself to settle it for his team with a well timed run off an Arana through ball; he did well to get past both his marker and the onrushing goal keeper to score the match winner.

Good win for the home side but it might have been a different story if Bengaluru finished the game with 11 players but these are times when you take your chances and make most of the advantages you are given. As mentioned at the start, this was a great game to watch in terms of high quality of goal scoring.Coro and Nico are at a level that should be a benchmark that local talent should aspire to attain and beyond. I did like to make a special mention for Brandon Fernandes. He may not appear on the goal scorer’s sheet or in the assists section but is an important cog in the wheel for Lobera.

Brandonmakes the offense ticks and there are things he does that some may not notice. His creative eye and vision for a forward pass through traffic is understated as he makes it looks so easy at times. He gives the ball to Lanza or Edu in the spots they are able to make the killer passes to Coro. Even with his off ball runs, look closely at Coro’s first goal when he moves across the defence taking a marker with him and creates an even better opening for Coro to shoot. It shows the level of maturity in his game. Hopefully there isn’t a clamour from the outside to pressure him to score as I feel if he looks
to do the simple things well like link up play and his movements; the goal scoring opportunities will present themselves.

To conclude, a good result. Still work to be done on the left side defence. The forward line is coming together and clicking well. Key is when Coro is marked heavily then its vital Lanzarote and Brandon step up which I am certain they will.

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