Team Goemkarponn
Panjim: Despite a brave fightback and a historic first goal in their AFC Champions League Two campaign, FC Goa went down narrowly 1-2 to Saudi giants Al-Nassr FC in their Group D clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.
Goals from Angelo Borges and Haroune Camara handed Al-Nassr a commanding early lead before Brison Fernandes struck for the home side marking FC Goa’s first-ever goal in the continental competition. The match also saw Al-Nassr concede for the first time this season in ACL Two.
The visitors dominated possession 79% to Goa’s 21% and dictated the tempo with their quick passes and clinical movement. From the outset, Ayman Yahya, Borges, and Camara combined effectively to put the Goan defense under relentless pressure. Al-Nassr registered 18 shots, four on target, while maintaining an impressive 90% passing accuracy.
The Saudi side drew first blood in the 10th minute, when Angelo Gabriel Borges unleashed a stunning right-footed strike from outside the box that flew past goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari. Seventeen minutes later, Camara doubled the lead, showing remarkable composure to score amid a crowded penalty area.
FC Goa suffered an early setback when Javier Siverio had to be replaced by Brison Fernandes in the 25th minute due to injury. The substitution, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After going 0-2 down, head coach Manolo Marquez made tactical tweaks tightening the midfield with Borja Herrera orchestrating the play.
The move paid off when Fernandes, showing superb awareness, latched onto a through ball from Herrera and finished with a crisp right-footed curler into the corner to halve the deficit before halftime. The Goan youngster’s strike ignited hope among the home fans, as the Gaurs went into the break trailing 1-2.
The second half saw Al-Nassr slow the tempo, focusing more on ball control than constant pressing. Marran came close to extending the lead but failed to hit the target from close range. FC Goa, on the other hand, introduced Ayush Chhetri and Abdul Rabeeh in the 66th minute in search of fresh energy.
The hosts almost equalised moments later when Boris Singh found himself in a promising position, but his shot though saved by Bento was ruled offside. Despite a few late bursts from Rabeeh down the right flank, FC Goa couldn’t find the finishing touch and eventually succumbed to another narrow home defeat.
With this result, FC Goa remain at the bottom of Group D, while Al-Nassr continue to lead the table. The Gaurs will now travel to Riyadh for the reverse fixture on November 5, hoping to turn their fighting spirit into points.
