FC Goa lifted themselves off the bottom of the 2016 Hero Indian Super League table with a 1-0 victory over FC Pune City at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Balewadi on Thursday evening. Rafael Coelho’s curler into the top corner from a free-kick in the 32nd minute dashed the hopes of an 8,500-strong home crowd in attendance.
FC Pune City began on a strong note as they unleashed a flurry of attacks down the flanks. Goa came back strongly though by asserting dominance in midfield. Rafael Coelho put in a dangerous ball while Joffre got a couple of half chances of his own. The game settled down with Pune dominating possession, but there was no goal in sight.
Finally the breakthrough arrived in form of a free-kick in the 32nd with Coelho pulling out a curling-stunner to find the back of the net. Joffre was pulled down outside the box by Augustine Fernandes and Coelho did the rest to put Goa 1-0 ahead. Pune upped their game after that, gaining a couple of corners with Jesus Tato coming close and Laxmikanth Kattimani making a good save.
The last few minutes of the first half saw Pune trying hard to get the equaliser. Jonatan Lucca cut in from the left to unleash a low shot but Kattimani was equal to the task and made another beautiful save. A minute later Tato almost equalised with a header but Kattimani once again displayed his calmness and was able to collect the ball. Pune dominated the ball but Goa got the goal, making it 1-0 in favour of the visitors at half-time.
The second half continued in a similar fashion with Pune seeing more of the ball. Pune’s attacking half kept winning the ball with Tato leading the way. A curling free-kick sent by him into the box was put wide by Gouramangi Singh. Pune put more men forward as the game opened up, paving the way for Goa to hit on the counter. One such move in the 60th minute had Coelho finding Joffre in the clear but the Spaniard wasted the chance as he blasted the ball over the net.
Zico looked to secure all three points as he substituted Robin Singh with Raju Gaikwad and Joffre with Reinaldo, and Pune brought on Momar Ndoye hoping he will replicate his performance from the first encounter between these teams this season. Soon after those substitutions, Lucca aimed for the top corner with his free-kick but Kattimani once again came to the rescue for the Gaurs.
Coelho could have doubled Goa’s lead after he went past Edel Bete with an open net but was blocked by the brilliant effort of Rahul Bheke as the defender took the shot head-on. The subsequent cross was then put wide by the Brazilian. The Gaurs held on to their lead to achieve their second win this season as the Stallions failed to break down their opponents.
*Originally published in indiansuperleague.com *