Welcome to Sportstar's ISL 2020-21 highlights of the Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa game being played at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday.
Our ISL coverage is not over just yet! We have the southern derby in less than 20 minutes as Kerala Blasters takes on Chennaiyin FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim. [ PREVIEW ]
Follow the KBFC vs CFC game LIVE:
Bengaluru FC's chances of sealing a spot in the semifinal comes to an end as it slips to a 2-1 loss to FC Goa. The Gaurs rode on strikes from Igor Angulo and Redeem Tlang, while Suresh Wangjam scored for Bengaluru FC.
The victory sees FC Goa move to the third spot and extend its unbeaten run to 12 games. This is also FC Goa's first win against Bengaluru FC in three years.
--
90+7' FULL-TIME! Bengaluru FC 1 - 2 FC GOA
90+4' Bengaluru FC needs two goals in three minutes to remain in contention for a play-off spot!
90+2' Pratik does just enough to fend off Pandita. Pratik waits on Suresh's back-pass, unaware that Pandita was chasing down the ball. Pratik manages to avoid the danger by getting a last-gasp touch to play it to Dheeraj.
90+1' Wow, we have seven minutes of added time to be played - that's the most this season!
90' Top save from Gurpreet! Ali's header seems destined to sneak into the bottom corner but Gurpreet dives to his left to keep it out. Seven minutes to be added on.
89' Bengaluru FC caught on the counter! Noguera threads a stunning ball and Pandita is off! He races towards goal and fires a fiery strike that's saved by Gurpreet. Corner to Goa!
87' Bengaluru with a change - Edmund comes on for Xisco. The youngster made an immediate impact in the last game as he came off the bench to assist Chhetri's second goal.
85' It's all or nothing for Bengaluru FC now. The side needs to win today and in its next game to remain in contention for a playoff spot. Can the former ISL champion find a way back in this game?
84' Triple change for FC Goa: Ishan Pandita replaces Angulo, Amarjit Singh comes on for Redeem and Princeton Rebello is brought in for Glan Martins.
81' Right then, we're now into the last nine minutes of regulation time, or shall we say - Ishan Pandita time?
80' Dimas gets booked for a rash tackle on Noguera. He swings his leg at Noguera from behind, does not make contact, but gets booked for the intent.
78' Noguera has a crack at goal from outside the box....but fails to trouble the 'keeper.
75' Fantastic run from Ashique! He takes on two players and races into the box before squaring it. The Goa defence clears it but only as far as Pratik. The defender drills a low shot from distance that is deflected away by Gonzalez. Time for the water break.
73' Seriton has been replaced by Mohamed Ali.
70' Seriton has gone down and is being attended to.
69' Brilliant work from Glan. He wrestles his way past his marker to find Noguera near the box. The Spaniard drills a powerful drive that is kept out by Gurpreet.
68' Another change for Bengaluru FC as Pratik Chaudhari replaces Rahul Bheke.
67' Ashique is very very lucky to escape a red card. He grabs Devendra's jersey and tugs him to the ground but somehow escapes a second yellow card. Goa has a golden chance from the resultant free-kick as Bedia whips in a delicious ball, but Gonzalez fails to connect.
66' Udanta looks visibly unhappy at being taken off. He removed his jersey as soon as his number came up on the substitution board and took off his shin pads the moment he got off the playing field.
65' Change for FC Goa too - Devendra Murgaokar comes on for Romario.
63' First change of the evening - Udanta is replaced by Dimas Delgado. Dimas is playing his first game since January 12. The Spaniard had to go back to Spain due to personal reasons and recently underwent a 14-day quarantine in Goa before re-joining the club.
60' Second booking of the game - Romario clips Ashique from behind and picks up a yellow card.
57' A stunning through ball releases Angulo down the right and he tries to square it for Noguera, but Paartalu's outstretched boot clears the danger.
55' What a golden chance for Angulo! He craftily receives a lob from the centre and races into a 1v1 with Gurpreet. He goes on to chip it above the 'keeper but misses the target.
53' "Cleiton throws himself on the ground like a petulant child," says the commentator. The Brazilian runs into Gonzalez wants a free-kick, but the ref has none of it.
51' Well-timed tackle from Seriton. Ashique darts down the right and sizes up a cross but Seriton throws in a sliding tackle to clear it for a corner.
48' Much like the first half, Bengaluru FC gets off to a strong start. A long punt from the centre lands just a foot ahead of Chhetri in the box...
46' KICK-OFF! The second half gets underway.
An enthralling opening half of football ends with FC Goa leading 2-1. The Gaurs struck twice in three minutes to storm ahead. Angulo scored the first one following an error from Paartalu and Redeem bagged the second with a clinical finish soon after.
Bengaluru bounced back in fine fashion and scored right after the water break through Suresh. The youngster scored a lovely goal from a very tight angle to halve his side's deficit. This was Suresh's first goal of his professional career.
45' HALF TIME! Bengaluru FC 1 - 2 FC Goa
44' Another Xisco free-kick and another chance for Bengaluru! The Spaniard beautifully fires it into the box and Cleiton flicks it on with his head, but Dheeraj gets down in time to block the header. Two minutes to be added on.
42' OFF THE CROSSBAR! Xisco floats the ball towards the far post and Cleiton's header rattles the woodwork. Dheeraj's positioning, yet again, was rather poor.
41' Gonzalez brings Udanta down at the edge of the box and Bengaluru has a set-piece opportunity.
39' Chance for Cleiton! Ashique begins by playing a lovely cross in for Chhetri. The Bengaluru skipper can't get to the ball and it ;lands for Udanta, who whips in a ball for Cleiton. The Brazilian heads it well but can''t find the target.
37' Xiscoooooooooo...that did not miss by much! He has a go from just outside the box and his shot zooms just above the crossbar.
35' Angulo's shot is just wide! Some lovely play on the right flank from Goa. Seriton makes a darting run and plays it to Romario, who lays it for Angulo. The striker tries to curl it into the far corner but narrowly misses the target.
33' SURESH SCORES A SCREAMER FOR BENGALURU! Bengaluru FC strikes right after the water break and how! Suresh gets the ball on the left from Cleiton and skips past Seriton before firing a stunning curling attempt from the acutest of angles to bring his side back into the game.
30' Excellent link up play between Cleiton and Udanta. The give-and-go sees Cleiton storm into the box and attempt a cross but Seriton tracks back to make a strong block.
28' Gonzalez has gone down now and it looks like he might have to be taken off...
25' What a change of fortunes here for Bengaluru. After making a bright start, the former champion is now chasing a two-goal deficit owing to its frailties at the back.
23' REDEEM MAKES IT 2-0 TO FC GOA! Two goals in three minutes and FC Goa is firmly in control. Bengaluru FC's inability to clear the ball out of the box sees the Gaurs capitalise. Romario laid it for Redeem, who busted the back of the net with a well-composed finish.
21' Dheeraj nearly gives away a goal! The young 'keeper makes a phenomenal howler as he attempts to find a team-mate but plays it to Chhetri instead, well inside the FC Goa box. Dheeraj m makes amends by diving down to deny Chhetri a shot.
20' ANGULO SCORES FOR FC GOA! It's an absolute gift for Angulo. Paartalu is caught in possession at the back as Martins win the ball off him and lays it for Angulo. The Spaniard takes two touches before coolly slotting it past Gurpreet.
19' A rather unlucky yellow card for Ashique. He vies for the ball with Redeem and the latter goes down to ground and wins a free-kick. Ashique made no contact with Redeem, but still picks up a yellow card.
18' Romario forces a save from Gurpreet! The youngster attempts a cross from the right but ends up curling it goal-ward and Gurpreet makes a fine save.
15' How has Xisco gotten away with that? The Spaniard virtually strangles Edu Bedia while trying to win the ball and the ref, who was five yards away, strangely says no foul.
14' Chance for Goa! Bheke's foul on Angulo sees the Gaurs win a free-kick. Noguera curls it towards the far corner and Gurpreet attempts to collect it but ends up parrying it away.
12' A lovely diagonal ball finds Redeem on the left and he whips in a cross but there's no orange shirt in the box to convert.
10' Parag has a go from distance after a well-worked free-kick routine, but it's nowhere near the goal.
8' Big chance for Redeem to shine today - he's making only his second start of the season. He was sent off the last time he started.
STAT: Dheeraj has conceded nine goals in the five games he has played. He is yet to keep a cleansheet.
5' Saved inches off the goal-line! FC Goa nearly concedes from a long throw-in Dheeraj races off his line to collect the ball but makes an absolute mess of it. Cleiton manages to get a touch on the ball, but Seriton thwarts the danger.
2' Bengaluru FC makes a sprightly start on a very sunny evening in Goa.
1' KICK OFF!
--
4:55pm: The players are out in the centre - Bengaluru in its blue home kit and FC Goa also in its all orange home kit.
4:45pm: Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic has just defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to clinch his ninth Australian Open title. You can catch the highlights here .
4:40pm: Bengaluru FC interim coach Naushad Moosa feels that Khalid Jamil’s success at NorthEast United has raised hopes of an Indian manager taking over at an ISL club on a permanent basis .
4:30pm: Juan Ferrando also makes two changes. The side's captain Edu Bedia returns to the starting line-up, while Redeem Tlang also finds a spot in the XI. Strangely though, Jorge Ortiz is not even on the bench - he's carrying a niggle perhaps?
OUT - Princeton, Ortiz | IN - Redeem, Edu
4:15pm: Two changes for Bengaluru FC and both come in defence. Ajith Kumar and Harmanjot Khabra are replaced by Rahul Bheke and Ashique Kuruniyan. Ashique is making his first start since he suffered multiple fractures to his face in the game against Odisha FC on December 17.
OUT - Ajith, Khabra | IN - Bheke, Ashique
4pm: Team news!
Bengaluru FC starting XI
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Parag Srivas, Fran Gonzalez, Rahul Bheke, Suresh Wangjam, Erik Paartalu, Cleiton Silva, Ashique Kuruniyan, Xisco Hernadez, Udanta Singh, Sunil Chhetri
FC Goa starting XI
Dheeraj Singh, Seriton Fernandes, Ivan Gonzalez, Saviour Gama, James Donachie, Alberto Noguera, Alexander Jesuraj, Edu Bedia, Glan Martins, Redeem Tlang, Igor Angulo
3:45pm: Eleven categories, 11 awards, 36 nominees and one big celebration! The 'Sportstar Aces Awards' are back in 2021 and this time, we are honouring the Giants of the Decade. Vote for your favourite athletes today through the link provided below.
#SportstarGoD | ACES AWARDS 2021 VOTING LINK
3:30pm: PODCAST - In the latest episode of Sportstar's 'The Full Time Show', Odisha FC CEO Rohan Sharma and club president Raj Athwal take us through their former head coach Stuart Baxter's comments, their decision to let him go and the larger problem of trivializing sexual violence in the sporting world.
Match Preview:
Bengaluru FC (BFC) and FC Goa will both be desperate for all three points when they meet at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on Sunday.
Anything other than a win will put an end to seventh-placed BFC’s hopes of qualifying for the Indian Super League (ISL 2020-21) playoffs. The club, currently on 22 points, has made the top-four in each of the past three seasons.
RELATED|
FC Goa, meanwhile, is locked in a fierce battle for the playoff spot with Hyderabad FC and NorthEast United FC. All three teams are on 27 points with two games to go.
“I’m not using the ‘do or die’ term with the players. I think it’s more pressure for Goa,” said BFC interim coach Naushad Moosa, on Saturday. “For me, it’s going to be a normal game. We have to see how they (Goa) approach the game. It’s important that I don't put much pressure on the players no matter what happens.”
Moosa’s wards can draw confidence from the 4-2 win they registered over Mumbai City FC in the previous match. The Sunil Chhetri-led side played on the front foot and was helped by Mumbai’s habit of playing an open, expansive style.
RELATED|
FC Goa, is not necessarily a Mumbai clone, but professes a similar philosophy of attacking football, giving rise to hopes of an entertaining fare.
BFC will have a fully fit Ashique Kuruniyan to call upon, while midfielder Dimas Delgado is out of quarantine after returning from Spain. Moosa, however, said that the Spanish midfielder won’t be starting the game.
But even at full strength, BFC will find Goa a tough nut to crack. Juan Ferrando’s side is unbeaten in 11 games, and last Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Odisha has the potential to liberate the side following a run of six straight draws.
“It’s good for us when we take three points because the dressing room feels better,” Ferrando said. “The anxiety and stress are out. When you’re winning the game and in the last minutes you have to take a draw, it’s difficult. It was very important to take three points against Odisha and continue fighting for the third or fourth positions.”
RELATED|
Edu Bedia’s return after being cleared of ‘biting’ charges will be a big boost for Goa. Igor Angulo has continued his steady goal-scoring form (12 so far), while Ishan Pandita has proved a potent threat from the bench, adding four goals.
An area of concern though will be the Goa defence. It hasn’t kept a clean sheet for seven games and has a tendency to concede goals from set-pieces, which BFC will be keen to exploit.
“We need to control these points,” said Ferrando. “This is the problem with experience in the end, but we are working all the time. It’s necessary to control the space, control man-to-man, be strong and have a positive mentality.”
--
Follow Sportstar's full coverage (Latest news, Interviews, Features, Points table, Quiz, Videos) of ISL 2020-21 .
The seventh edition of the Indian Super League got underway inside a bio-bubble in Goa on November 20.
The tournament, spanning over four months, will see 11 teams play each other in a league and playoff format across three venues. Following the inclusion of SC East Bengal, this season will feature 115 games, up from 95 last season.
Comments
SHARE