India Sports Tribune

MARGAO, INDIA: FC Goa beat Mumbai City 2-1 in the second semifinal of the ongoing AIFF Super Cup at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao, Goa on Thursday, December 4. The home team led by two goals after the first 45 minutes, but perhaps the biggest drama of the day was when their captain, Iker Guarrotxena, was sent off before kickoff.

The Spaniard was said to have committed an unspeakable offence against the referee during the teams’ lining up, and was directly shown a red card by the latter. An argument leading from the referee objecting to Guarrotxena’s attire infuriated the former, who argued his case without any success. As a result, Javier Siverio replaced him in the XI, but Goa were not penalised or harmed in any way in the number of substitutions they could make.

Brison Fernandes opened the scoring for the hosts in the 20th minute, soon after he received a sweetly-placed cross from Borja Herrera on the left flank. Fernandes, who is from Loutolim, less than ten kilometres from Fatorda, timed his shot from the outside of his boot to wrong-foot Mumbai City goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa and find the back of the net.

Just three minutes later, left-back Aakash Sangwan sent in a cross which was headed by City’s central defender Bijay Chhetri onwards to the waiting feet of David Timor. The midfielder hit it straight to Lachenpa, but the latter could merely parry the ball backwards into the goal. The Gaurs were ahead by two goals before their opponents could even take a breather.

Mumbai City responded with quick, one-touch football in the second half

In the 52nd minute, Mumbai City’s Chhetri set Jorge Pereyra Diaz free with a lobbed long pass. Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari inexplicably rushed out of his mark and collided with Diaz just inside the box. Referee Pratik Mondal wasted no time in pointing to the spot, but unfortunately for the Islanders, skipper Lallianzuala Chhangte skied the resultant spot kick into the Margao night sky.

Their dejection was not to last long. City pulled one back in the 59th minute, when Tiri set Brandon Fernandes off with a long ball on the left flank. The former FC Goa captain then partook in a delicious one-two with Diaz before finishing it wide of Tiwari. The Benaulim lad did not celebrate much out of respect, but it was clear that the Islanders were back in the game.

However, the hosts’ defenders stood tall, marking their opponents closely and giving them virtually no elbow room at all. Brandon Fernandes and Chhangte were continually creating opportunities for City, but the finished product evaded them. Goa will now play against East Bengal in the final of the Super Cup on Sunday, December 7, at the same venue. Needless to say, being the hosts, they will start as favourites.

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