ISL 2017-18: FC Goa beat Jamshedpur FC - But was it a perfect win?

FC GOA registered its win in 2018 in a game where they really had to grind out a hard fought 2-1 result against a very resolute Jamshedpur Side. The game lived up to its billing with the league’s most attack minded side up against one of the better defensive units. Unfortunately at the end, couple of suspect officiating decisions had its influence in the game but FC Goa will take what it gets given the gruelling run of fixtures made it all the more tougher for them.

It was surprising that Steve Coppell actually had a front bank line of 4 pressers stationed in Goa’s half whenever Katti began the first passage of the play to apply the initial press and the moment Goa managed to navigate through that first bank of 4, the two wingers dropped deeper to help cover their full backs. Ironically with Jamshedpur pressing and a section of the crowd dissenting, Katti had to eventually start to go route 1 with longer clearances instead of passing to switch flanks. It in a way ensured that Jamshedpur didn’t allow Goa to play the way they would have liked.

Right up to the 35^th minute, Coppell had Goa right where he wanted. Coro was tightly marked by both Bikey and Tiri in what is becoming a very common approach by rival teams. The central defensive pairing don’t leave any gap between themselves when Coro is about to make runs, at the most they allow him space to run on flanks but that negates his threat. While Lanza had to drop much deeper to collect the ball due to the number of players Jamshedpur were able to quickly commit in defence when they didn’t have the ball.

Sitting in the stands watching the movements of FC Goa which otherwise may not be noticeable on the screen, I personally just got the feeling that Goan players seemed very conscious about the fact not to get caught on the counter that whenever they did launch a counter of their own, there weren’t enough teammates joining the forward line in attack.

Its only when a tactical change was effected when Brandon and Mandar swapped flanks that there was a change in dynamic. Both managed to manipulate Jamshedpur’s defensive positioning by moving in and out of central positions. Which ultimately lead to their first breakthrough when Brandon got fouled in the box by Bikey for a penalty that was well taken by Lanza despite the added pressure of a re take. To Bikey’s agony the referee didn’t pick him getting the touch on the ball first before Brandon collided with him.  The fact that the ball went straighter out of play instead of a curve should have given a fair idea to the ref.

If Goa were to build from that goal using it as a platform to launch an early assault then some bad habits reared its ugly head. An innocuous looking clearance to the left where all Narayan had to do was close down on Jerry to prevent a clear vision on the cross while the defensive positioning of Ali was completely nonexistent. It was School boy stuff to be brutally honest.

Though Goa kept prodding and asking questions through Lanza, a hint of fortune wasn’t far away at the behest of another clanger by the linesman official. The timing of Brandon through ball pass clearly shows Lanza starting position in an off side position. Not to take away anything from a delightful turn and shoot by Lanza which was top draw but the non decision left a bitter after taste on what was an evenly fought game. To Jamshedpur’s credit, they did well to launch a barrage of attacks down Goa’s right wing through Belfort, I was a bit surprised an in game tactical adjustment wasn’t made to provide more cover there and this is where Goa invites itself a lot of problems. Fortunately for them, Jamshedpur couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

At the end, Lobera can breathe a sigh of relief to have come out with a win and see the team in 4^th only separated by Pune on Goal Difference. In a continuing narrative, there is still work to be done on the defensive end in terms of positioning and closing down dangerous spaces quickly. Sariton and Bruno looked to stay back to give more defensive cover which is fair enough and needed specially after Ali found himself exposed covering for Bruno on Azuka that nearly cost them a goal early on. Ali made some crucial blocks by putting his body on the line but a more complete performance is needed by Goa and a first clean slate would be testimony to that.