MATCH REPORT: Highlanders get a rude homecoming as the Gaurs maul them 3-1

AN UNDETERRED FC GOA SIDE came back from a goal down to claim a 3-1 victory over home side NorthEast United in a third ISL encounter at Guwahati tonight.

While the Highlanders, playing at home for the first time this season, decided to keep the same starting line-up from the one that managed a draw away in Kerala, Zico was compelled to make a number of changes from the squad that let in 4 goals against Chennaiyin: Luciano replaced the injured marquee Lucio, Bikramjit, Sabeeth and Jonatan were started instead of Mandar, Denson and Romeo. Going for an Indian keeper for this encounter, Zico gave Laxmikant Kattimani his first start of the season, benching Andrade.  

It was NEUFC who started brighter, breaching the Goa defence time and again especially up the flanks. Their maneuvres paid off too as a pass to Sanju Pradhan on the right saw him sneak up to the goal, drawing Kattimani towards himself, then coolly and impeccably set up a header for Franis Dadzie who ran in and nodded the ball into the empty net. One nil to the Highlanders.

GOOOAAALL! Dadzie fires up a strong header assisted by Sanju into the right corner! #NEUFC #8States1United #NEUvGOA pic.twitter.com/607KYPLsCH

— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) October 15, 2015

Undeterred, the Gaurs looked to hog the possession and wait for their chances. But NEUFC were still coming on strong. Pradhan made another good cross to Dadzie but Gregory prevented him to take a shot. Then Jonatan Lucca had a good chance but Zohmingliana was there to clear it. 

But the Brazilian had been working hard all night and soon got his due. He passed it to Sabeeth, who sent the ball ahead to Jofre, who sent it back to Jonatan just outside the penalty box. The shot was a curler that beat a defender and the keeper on its way. A perfect team effort. And FC oa were level.

But within 2 minutes the visitors were ahead. Jonatan's pass to Jofre saw the latter send in a cross, which reached an onrushing Reinado after taking a deflection. The striker set it on its way to the net with the first touch. Suddenly the Gaurs had the lead. 

Goals are on the cards tonight! FORCCCAAA GOA! #NEUvGOA #GOA pic.twitter.com/5Omres5WrX

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) October 15, 2015

The sudden goals changed the nature of the match radically as the physicality of the contest went a notch higher. Kamara brought down Moura and saw a yellow card. Then Reinaldo elbowed Kamara and earned another yellow of his own. 

Towards the end of the half, FC Goa were denied a clear penalty. It was Jofre who was clearly brought down off the ball by the keeper. But the referee thought Bracigliano had gotten a touch on the ball and decided not to award the spot kick. It was another crucial officiating mistake to be added to the long list of potentially result-altering blunders referees have committed so far.

But Goa were persistent and ultimately justified their efforts by extending their lead in the second half. The period started with some back-and-forth probing as the teams settled back into their own paces. After a while Jofre managed to pass a good ball to Reinaldo, who ran up the left flank and sent in the cross, but Sabeeth running full-tilt failed to get his foot to it, and the opportunity went begging.

Then it was Reagan Singh with some outrageous work inside the Goa box. Silas sent it up for Diomansy Kamara who passed it to Reagan Singh, who instead of pushing ahead, shooting or passing somehow chose to track back with the ball clean out of the penalty box. He ultimately took the shot but it was too weak and Kattimani easily caught it. 

Jofre, who had earned two assists and played a pivotal role in FC Goa's recovery, got substituted by Mandar Rao Desai, and within 3 minutes newly-benched Dempo loanee proved his worth. It was Leo Moura who sent a precise, sublime cross through a jungle of defenders' feet. Mandar with his fresh legs easily breached the defensive line and got to the ball way ahead of the nearest NEUFC player. His finishing was calm and firm. FC Goa had finally got their third goal, and the two goal cushion so vital in games like these.

The moment when our SUPER SUB @mandar17dessai scored to make it 3-1 in @FCGoaOfficial 's favour! #GOA #NEUvGOA pic.twitter.com/TUtKuPE2qh

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) October 15, 2015

From here on it became a game of missed chances. Immediately after the match started Mandar once again was fed by a good ball, this time from Reinaldo, but could not collect it properly. Then it was NEUFC who let an easy one go; Silas sent in a corner kick, Hengbart got it and passed to Velez who shot an easy close-ranger above the crossbar.

Mandar nearly got his second as Moura sent him a good cross from the left and he took the shot but it hit the post. Soon afterwards it was Reinaldo, supplied by Debabrata, who failed to keep a relatively easy shot on target.

Silas, too, had a screamer. Sanju Pradhan's cross reached him inside the box but he shot it above the target. Then Velez got a good shot, on target this time, but Kattimani threw himself to the left and got half a palm to the ball, deflecting it out for a corner.

And that was it. Goa had scored their second win in their 4th game to rise to the second spot in the points table. And NEUFC had suffered their third defeat in as many matches, still at the bottom of the table with a disheartening 0 points to their name. 

The way FC Goa managed to force themselves back into the game and then claim a convincing win will give them a great mental boost going ahead in the campaign. A performance like this was exactly what they needed after the 0-4 hammering they received from Chennaiyin back home. Had they not missed so many chances in the second half the scoreline would have been much higher. Now, at this crucial juncture, they find themselves with a rare one week gap before facing their next opponent in Mumbai City away from home. It's the perfect time for Zico and his boys to hold on to this winning feeling, and let it fuel them as they regroup. The enthusiasm prevalent around the camp even reached owner Virat Kohli. 

Superb display by @FCGoaOfficial today! Great way to bounce back. Keep up the good work lads!!! #ForcaGoa #FCGoa #NEUvGOA

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 15, 2015

For NorthEast United, the misery does not seem to be at an end. A third straight defeat at the very start of the campaign is very bad omen. Cesar Farias will have to move mountains to lead a comeback for the Highlanders come Tuesday when they take on Chennaiyin FC. But the defensive performance they put on tonight would not be of much help against the likes of Mendoza and Elano. So it's time for the ex Venezuela manager to think hard and ring in some proper changes, given that this is still an early stage and a top four finish for NEUFC is still very much possible. But the morale of the players will be at an all-time low after this rude homecoming that they just went through.

.@leomoura2 's gesture sums up the night for the Gaurs'! The Gaurs' fought hard and WON! #ForcaGoa #GOA pic.twitter.com/Y27jpl1GHh

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) October 15, 2015