Secure thrilling 3-2 win against East Bengal at Salt Lake Stadium
Panaji
In an exciting match on Friday night, Borja Herrera shone for FC Goa, scoring a perfect hat-trick to secure a 3-2 victory against East Bengal FC. This win marked FC Goa's first of the season, lifting their spirits after a challenging start.
Herrera's impressive performance included three goals from eight shots, with an accuracy of 3 out of 5. He was instrumental in the match, not only finding the back of the net but also making eight touches in the opposition box, completing three passes into the final third, and achieving two accurate long balls.
After the game, FC Goa's coach Manolo Marquez spoke about the mental challenges both teams faced. "It was a very mental game. Both teams arrived in a bad moment, at least in terms of scores," he said. "We started the game very well, scoring two early goals. We were clinical, but I thought we needed to finish off East Bengal while they were down after two defeats."
The match saw East Bengal equalize briefly after a penalty kick, which put pressure back on FC Goa. Marquez emphasized the importance of scoring a third goal to secure their lead. "In the second half, we couldn’t just sit back and wait for the game to finish at 1-1. We needed to push for that third goal," he explained.
The match was also marked by disciplinary issues, with a total of seven yellow cards and one red card issued. Marquez commented on the officiating, stating, "For me, there were too many cards. The game was not that aggressive, yet the referee handed out too many cautions."
Marquez praised the contributions of young players in the squad, particularly highlighting their commitment and performance. "Boris has experience in the ISL and showed excellent precision today. It was his best game so far," he noted. He also commended the efforts of young players like Nemil and Bryson, saying, "They gave everything on the pitch. From the bench, it felt like we deserved to win."
Reflecting on their previous match against Mohammedan SC, Marquez noted the difference in performance. "In Kolkata, we didn't play well, but we managed to equalize in injury time, which felt like a small victory. It’s not the same to look at the table with zero points or one," he stated.
Despite the victory, FC Goa faced injury challenges. Marquez revealed that all three of their strikers were out injured, including Armando Sadiku, who suffered an injury during training just a day before the match. However, he reassured fans that Sadiku would be fit for the next game. "It was bad luck, but he will be available soon," Marquez confirmed.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
FC Goa secured their first victory of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season, edging past East Bengal FC 3-2 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The highlight of the match was Borja Herrera’s stunning hat-trick, marking the first of the season
The match began with FC Goa showing early promise. Dejan Drazic, Borja Herrera, and Boris Singh created significant chances, with their efforts rewarded in the 13th minute. After a cross from Drazic was parried by East Bengal goalkeeper Debjit Majumder, Borja seized the opportunity to score. Just seven minutes later, in the 20th minute, Borja found the net again, capitalizing on a precise cut-back from Boris
East Bengal fought back, with Madih Talal scoring from a penalty in the 29th minute after being tripped in the box by Nim Dorja. The Red and Gold Brigade began the second half strongly, but FC Goa regained control in the 71st minute when Borja completed his hat-trick, finishing off a setup from Udanta Singh
The game took a tense turn when Carl McHugh received a second yellow card in the 81st minute, leaving FC Goa with ten men. East Bengal capitalized on this, with David Lalhlansanga scoring in the 85th minute after a rebound. Despite a late push for an equalizer, FC Goa held on to claim all three points, showcasing resilience and attacking prowess throughout the match
