Half Time Report: Dominating Goa find it hard to find the all important lead
Starting Line-Ups:
FC Goa - Elinton Andrade, Gregory Gregory, Lucio, Luciano Sambrosa, Jonatan Lucca, Bikramjit Singh, Mandar Rao Desai, Romeo Fernandes, Boithang Haokip, Joaquim Abranches, Leo Moura
FC Pune City - Diego Simonsen, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Roger Johnson, Gouramangi Singh, Nicky Shorey, Didier Zokora, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Lenny Rodrigues, Bikash Jairu, Tuncay Sanli, Kalu Uche
A HALF OF DOMINATION saw FC Goa do everything to earn that all important lead against FC Pune City but fail due to several factors within and beyond their control to be held to a 0-0 at half-time in a top-of-the-table ISL clash at Fatorda tonight.
Zico went for a wholesale change in his starting line-up, making six changes in his team, bringing back Elinton Andrade to ensure more stability at goal, and the likes of Lucio, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai, Joaquim Abranches and Thongkhosiem Haokim all came into the side. David Platt made three changes to his team, bringing back Dharmaraj Ravanan, Roger Johnson and Lenny Rodrigues.
From the very beginning it was obvious that Goa were the more aggressive side. The Gaurs took on the Stallions from early on with their great link-up play in the midfield and sent the defenders scurrying around to make desperate blocks and tackles. On the 10th minute, Roger Johnson made a heroic off-the-line save when Haokip's shot got past Simonsen. Then Abranches found himself some space, but managed to shoot away from target and let Pune off the hook.
Minutes later Haokip managed to send a lovely pass to Mandar Rao Desai who made a great run forward, fooled Ravanan and took a great shot, but hit the crossbar.
The game went on and Goa kept doing everything other than scoring the actual goal. Then Tuncay Sanli handled the ball inside the box off a corner but the referee could not spot it and denied an obvious penalty to the home team.
Subsequently, a great ball from Lucca saw Leo Moura shoot completely off target to let yet another easy chance go begging.
Some back and forth continued till the end of the half. Pune got the ball into the Goa half a few times but failed to go far enough to test Elinton Grande. But thanks to some brilliant defending and a few moments of great luck they managed to hold Goa to a 0-0 stalemate at the break.
In the second half, Pune really need to step up the attack. These Goa attackers can't be contained for a whole match without putting the pressure back on them. Unless they manage to change things in the latter period, their position at the top of the table can be taken away by FC Goa. But if Pune somehow manage to sneak a goal here they will be absolutely on the top, as the pressure will be on the Gaurs to catch up by taking on a solid Pune defence. There's a good chance this will be a one goal game.
