ISL 2020-21 -- Ishan Pandita, Angulo weave magical comeback for FC Goa to end the year

Goals from Ishan Pandita and Igor Angulo helped FC Goa come back and secure the three points against Hyderabad FC in Match 43 of Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco on Wednesday. Hyderabad took the lead early in the second half but a first-ever Hero ISL goal from Pandita and a ninth of the season from Angulo sealed the deal for the Gaurs as they head into the new year in the top four.

Both teams showed their attacking intent in the first half hour of the match but were unable to open the deadlock. In the 10th minute, Jorge Ortiz Mendoza laid the ball to Alexander Jesuraj and the cross from the Indian winger was blocked by Hyderabad defender Chinglensana Singh.

A few moments later, Ortiz played a ball through the Hyderabad defence and found Angulo but the striker was inches offside. Ortiz was in the thick of the action yet again in the 37th minute after collecting the ball in the middle of the park and making a forward run. However, the Spanish winger’s run was abruptly put to an end by Chinglensana’s perfect sliding tackle.

Angulo came close to giving the Gaurs the lead in the 43rd minute. Brandon Fernandes did well to win a long ball from Asish Rai and floated in a cross. The following header went over the crossbar with both sides unable to break the deadlock entering halftime.

As the second half got underway, Hyderabad youngster Akash Mishra had an attempt on goal in the 50th minute but he was off target. They came close yet again in the 54th minute: Halicharan Narzary created an opening for himself and passed the ball to his Brazilian teammate Joao Victor but the shot was well-saved by Gaurs goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz.

Not long after that Santana gave Hyderabad the lead in the 58th minute. The Spanish striker headed in a pinpoint cross from Asish to score his fifth goal of the season. Nawaz ensured that Hyderabad did not double the lead in the 61st minute after pushing a shot from Santana onto the crossbar. At the other end, a brilliant cross whipped in by Brandon in the 70th minute just needed a touch from Ortiz for the equaliser but the latter’s effort was not up to the mark.

As the action at both ends increased, Santana put another header into the net in the 71st minute. However, the Spaniard was adjudged to have been offside. Santana forced Nawaz into another save, but this time his effort was tame and deflected into the hands of the goalkeeper by the FC Goa defence.      

Pandita then scored the equaliser for the Gaurs in the 87th minute, seconds after coming onto the pitch. A freekick floated in from skipper Edu Bedia was headed cleanly into goal by the young attacker with his first touch of the game.

Hyderabad could have put the game to rest but Mohammed Yasir’s shot failed to hit the target. They were punished for their missed chances with Angulo scoring yet another injury time winner just like he had done against Jamshedpur FC.

Angulo received the ball from Alberto Noguera and beat his marker to take a shot on goal. A touch from Hyderabad goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani could not keep the effort out of goal as FC Goa took a late lead.

Fran Sandaza had a half chance towards the end of the match but his effort went in vain while Lluis Sastre also came close. Hyderabad eventually succumbed to a third consecutive defeat.

ISL Media Release