Late Reinaldo goal rescues Goa from Mendy-induced deficit and NorthEast domination

A LATE EQUALIZER from Reinaldo rescued a point for FC Goa after the Gaurs were dominated by visiting NorthEast United for most of the game at their own backyard, and spent a while trailing as Victor Mendy's goal had put the Highlanders ahead earlier in the second half. 

Both teams coming off defeats they'd forget in the soonest, the coaches made a number of changes in their respective starting line-ups. FC Goa made four changes with Zico admitting Mandar, Reinaldo, Victorino and Sabeeth back into the first eleven. And Cesar Farias made 5 changes; Reagan, Carlos, Sanju, Silas and Simao all got a start for the big test.

NorthEast United got a couple of early moments on an aggressive posture. Yumnam Raju made a early run with the ball and sent in a cross that Lucio managed to clear for a corner. Silas took it and Laxmikant came off the line to try and clear it. The ball got to Lopez, who sent in the header but Leo Moura was at hand to make a goal-line clearance. 

The home team suffered another scare when Laxmikant Kattimani, in an attempt to kick the ball far from the Goa peanlty box, ended up hitting Bruno Herrero and the ball came right back towards the goal. Laxmikant managed to get a hold of it though. 

Goa made their first notable onslaught when Victorino's cross to Reinaldo was sent back into the box for Dudu to to make the finish. But the Nigerian striker sent it over the crossbar. 

NorthEast immediately replied with a pass from Herrero that found Dadzie who had a clear shot at the goal. He sent in stinging left footer that Laxmikant did very well to save with a full-stretch dive.

But the Highlanders suffered a blow when Francis Dadzie pulled his hamstring early on in the hamstring and soon had to be taken off. Victor Mendy came on to replace him.

FC Goa were forced to make an early substitution as well. Raju Gaikwad had injured himself trying to make a clearance and he had to be replaced by Debabrata Roy.

But the visitors were clearly dominating by now and FC Goa had been mostly confined to defending, blocking and making clearances in their own half. Which, to their credit, they were doing well. Despite repeated raids, NEUFC strikers could not seem to find a way to best the Goa defenders. 

A foul on Moura by Hanghal saw Goa get a free kick from a good range. The free kick itself was cleared but it got to Reinaldo who sent in a header but it was a bit too wide. 

The Yumnam Raju almost got the break-through for the Highlanders. He made a run forward, then sent a ball to Bruno who let fly on the sprint but Jonatan Lucca managed to block it. The ball went out for a corner. 

And that's how the first half went, with NorthEast United firmly in control. FC Goa did well to defend and keep things level but their attack lacked discipline; they did not have a single shot on target in the first half, while the visitors had 4.

Zico began the second half by replacing Victorino Fernandes with Narayan Das and the Gaurs began the half with a zeal to draw some early blood. An over-excited Gregory Arnolin brought down Victor Mendy and got himself booked. Then Goa almost got a goal when Jonatan Lucca sent in a stunner from afar that Rehenesh had to work hard to slap away for a corner. The visitors survived, and minutes later, they had their due.

An Arnolin clearance earned th Highlanders a corner. Simao sent in the corner, Victor Mendy leapt up to take the header and he sent it right in. The Highlanders were ahead. 

FC Goa were now desperate to get back in the game. A few minutes later it was obvious that they were regaining lost ground; the ball was staying longer with them and their movement up and down the pitch was freeing up. Leo Moura sent a good ball to Desai who made a run for it but Siam Hanghal was there to be a thorn in his path. Then a corner kick from Jonatan Lucca saw Rehenesh punch the ball away in a hurry as Lucio was about to descend on it for the finisher.

Cesar Farias replaced Sanju Pradhan with Holicharan Narzary, and Victor mendy with Nicolas Velez. The intention was to have the fresh legs make maximum disruption in FC Goa's flow and bring back the pressure. The contest got more fiery, as Dudu got booked for a foul on Carlos Lopez.

A splendid through ball by Silas saw Bruno Herrero almost end up in possession with just the keeper ahead. But Laxmikant averted danger by running ahead and collecting before the Spanish medio got to it.   

And then Goa got even. Cross came in from the right flank, Leo Moura calmly chested it so that it went straight to Reinaldo who fired away on the first touch and the ball was in the net before anyone could say "equalizer." The 19,000+ fans present at the Fatorda exploded in cheer. 

But NorthEast United weren't giving up. They kept looking for their second. A Siam Hanghal move saw Kattimani fall short but his finisher missed the target by inches. 

And then came a blunder from the referee. A great ball to Nicolas Velez up front saw him clear the defence, get past the keeper and put the ball in the net. But the linesman raised his flag and the goal was disallowed for offside. But that was not the case. The referee's mistake denied NorthEast United a lead they deserved. And it had a direct impact on the match too; as it ended with the scoreline reading 1-1. It was an anti-climactic end to a contest filled with a number of great moments.

Cesar Farias will be disappointed. If his team had gotten the win, it would send them up to the second spot on the points table. But having gotten only 1 point from this match they're stuck at 4th place; with 17 points from 12 matches. But the team's confidence will receive a boost from the way they dominated the mighty FC Goa at their own backyard. The team has hit on a run of good form; they have won 3 of the last 5 games. Now, as they face Delhi Dynamos and Pune City at home in the last two games of the regular season, their final lap towards a top-four qualifications does not seem particularly easy but they will proceed with hope and belief. 

As for FC Goa, Zico wil be glad they did not lose this one. Back to back defeats right after their record setting win over Mumbai would have been a blow to their confidence. But things are not going to be easy at all for Goa as both their last games are away from home; at Kerala and Delhi, who are themselves fighting hard to make it to the top four. So it will be a fight till the very last day, and after spending a considerable time at the top of the table, the Gaurs have suddenly realised that they have miles to go before they ensure a place in the semi-finals, and any further slip-up may prove fatal to their campaign.