FC Goa registered back-to-back wins at home as they edged past Punjab FC by 2-1 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season on Wednesday. In their previous match, FC Goa beat Bengaluru FC 3-0.
Here are the key talking points from the match:
Asmir Suljic giving Punjab FC the lead
Asmir Suljic scored his second goal of the season on Wednesday. He handed Punjab FC the early lead. The visitors took the early initiative in the game with Suljic netting in back-to-back games. Despite a few personnel changes, Panagiotis Dilmperis’ men were quickly off the blocks.
They were rewarded for their persistent attacks when Asmir Suljic scored in the 13th minute. It was an excellent cross from Nihal Sudheesh, who lost Boris Singh on the left flank before drilling in a low cross. It was intended towards Luka Majcen, who left it for the onrushing Suljic which surprised the FC Goa backline. The Bosnian made no mistake in recording the first strike of the night.
FC Goa retaliate
The Gaurs showed great retaliation to the early goal. Their urgency to equalise increased as they pushed bodies forward to support Armando Sadiku.
They came close to scoring a couple of times before it all worked out in the 22nd minute when Ayush Chhetri and Sahil Tavora worked out off a tight space in midfield before the latter played it to Iker Guarrotxena in an advanced position.
The Spaniard delivered a deft pass to play Sadiku through on goal. With plenty of work to do, the Albanian showed his goal-scoring prowess as he slotted it past Ravi Kumar and a horde of Punjab FC defenders to level the scores.
Iker Guarrotxena, the star
Undoubtedly, the Spaniard was the difference between the two teams. He was the orchestrator for the first goal and the protagonist for the second. He also created two chances whilst putting in a shift defensively with a solitary tackle. He completed 21 out of his 30 attempted passes on the night.
Chaotic final quarter
The final quarter of the first half was quite chaotic as both teams were vulnerable in defence. Punjab FC almost had the lead ahead of the break when Suljic combined with Majcen and the latter was through on goal. But FC Goa custodian Hrithik Tiwari stood in the Slovenian’s way.
Desperate Punjab FC misfire
FC Goa’s second goal alerted Punjab FC. In a bid to find the equaliser, they increased the attacking panache as their coach Dilmperis made structural changes to fit in Mushaga Bakenga from the bench.
Punjab FC kept pushing for the equaliser to salvage something from the game but Manolo Marqeuz’s FC Goa held their lines brilliantly to thwart the danger and register a second successive win in the ISL.
Following Wednesday’s win, FC Goa rose to the third spot with 12 points in eight matches, while Punjab FC are placed in the fourth spot with as many points from six matches.