India Sports Tribune

MARGAO, INDIA: FC Goa successfully defended their AIFF Super Cup title by defeating East Bengal 6-5 on penalties at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao on Sunday, December 7. The sides could not be separated after regular time, post which, an extra 30 minutes were added. But even that could not break the stalemate.

In the penalty shootout that ensued, East Bengal took the first strike, with Kevin Sibille scoring. For FC Goa, captain Borja Herrera gave their supporters a minor scare by missing the first penalty. Saul Crespo and Miguel Ferreira scored in tandem for East Bengal while Javier Siverio and Dejan Drazic did the same for Goa.

Then, the game changed completely. Mohammad Rashid, the visitors’ hero in their 3-1 semifinal win over Punjab FC, skied his penalty kick, post which Muhammed Nemil scored for the home team. Anwar Ali and Hamid Ahdad scored for East Bengal, with David Timor and Udanta Singh doing the same for the Gaurs.

Young PV Vishnu missed from the spot for the Torchbearers, and all of a sudden, the fate of this encounter hung entirely on the able shoulders of Sahil Tavora of Goa. The former Hyderabad midfielder – renowned for scoring the equaliser in the final of the 2021-22 ISL Cup final at the same venue – sent the ball calmly into the net, allowing the home supporters to erupt in joy.

Stalemate during regular time

During regular time, both teams lacked the precision to finish vital chances. East Bengal were left more disappointed by the end of the first half, since they created more chances than their opponents, but had nothing to show for it. But for Miguel Ferreira being marginally onside and missing a late curler, the Torchbearers seemed to lack incision in the final third.

One of the reasons the Gaurs seemed troubled in the final third was due to their lack of control in possession, as well as poor first touches. Ultimately, it was a game dominated by both goalkeepers – Prabhsukhan Singh Gill for East Bengal and Hrithik Tiwari for FC Goa – since they simply refused to get beaten.

Things livened up in the second half. In the 75th minute, East Bengal’s PV Vishnu, who came on for Mahesh Singh, drove past the crowded midfield to send a powerful shot towards Tiwari. The latter initially fumbled with his collection, but managed to parry the ball safely away from the net, inches from the goal-line.

Goa’s opportunity came in extra time, when striker Siverio found himself in acres of space in the final third, slightly wide of the goalkeeper. The Spaniard could well have taken a direct shot into the net, but discouraged by the acute angle, he chose to lob it for a nearby teammate to capitalise on, but there was none.

Siverio found himself with the chance to win it for Goa a minute later, only to hit two consecutive shots directly at Gill’s body from point-blank range. The East Bengal goalkeeper did well to prevent the match from slipping away. Siverio, 28, was left ruing such a big miss, but thankfully, it did not go on to haunt him.

Penalties may often seem a rather unfortunate way to decide the winners of a tournament which has seen several ups and downs over the course of a month. Goa kept their composure when it mattered the most and overcame East Bengal thanks to penalties. Goa have now won the Super Cup thrice since its inception in its current format in 2018. Coach Manolo Marquez has now won two titles for Goa in consecutive seasons.

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