It was yet another disappointing night for Nelo Vingada as NorthEast United conceded two silly goals to lose 2-1 to FC Goa at Fatorda. It was a match that the visitors should have won, but the injury time shocker by Romeo Fernandes was a nightmare that Vingada and co. would remember for a long time.
Here are the five talking points from the match.
#1 Will to win works for Goa
Coach Zico would be very proud of his boys as a much weakened FC Goa team (they had only two outfield players on the bench) could get better of a nearly full strength NorthEast United. For the first time in ISL history, a team fielded nine Indians in their starting XI in the absence of their key players, who were either out injured or suspended.
Zico’s team was weak in every aspect. It lacked experience, it lacked playmakers and even more it lacked bench players to whom he could turn. With the situation Goa was in, Zico had just four names in the substitution list, of which two were goalkeepers.
Yes, the team started on a disappointing note, as soon after the kick off they started succumbing to the NorthEast United attack. Making best use of the opportunity, the visitors pushed the entire team into the opposition box. But it was Kattimani’s miraculous saves that kept things at bay.
FC Goa did not have a good game. They did not even create a lot of threats. But the fact that they relied on two good chances and converted them did the trick of them as Zico’s young boys pulled off an inspirational victory.
#3 Laxmikant Kattimani comes to the fore
The saviour for FC Goa was surely their captain and goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani. He compensated for the mistake he committed the last time these two teams faced each other and single-handedly denied NorthEast United of so many chances that it is really heartbreaking that visitors could not find the back of the net more than once.
It was his brilliant reflexes that denied Borges a goal of his brilliant header and shielded Yusa and Romaric’s brilliant strikes.
One only goal he conceded came off a deflection and hence he could not be accounted for it.
#3 Restructured NorthEast United
The plan for Vingada was to attack. And this was very evident from the team set up he had. He gave Mailson Alves a start and pushed Holicharan Narzary onto the left back position. On paper, it was a very defensive formation, but with a totally opposite intention.
With more players in the defence, the taller ones from the back could run ahead and attack. Hence against Goa, one saw Lazzaretti and Alves frequently in the penalty box, attacking.
Another player who was seen in a different role was Rowllin Borges. One could see the player pressing hard, something that he usually doesn’t do. It was actually a rotating system, where Borges pressed ahead while Zokora stayed back, and vice versa. All in all, NorthEast wanted to keep no stones unturned.
But in an unfortunate night, there was little that they could have done. They had more shots on target, two of their attempts hit the crossbar and the side post and they ultimately conceded two silly goals.
#4 Goa’s Fortune
In a game totally dominated by NorthEast United, FC Goa found space to attack only a handful of times. But in the second half, when they received two golden opportunities, they did something which the opposition could not, converted both them.
It was again the attacking intent of NorthEast United that offered the two goals on platter for the home team. As mentioned before, Lazzaretti and Alves often ventured ahead to attack, leaving space for counter attack. Both the goals came in the similar fashion with Romeo and Robin Singh taking full advantage of Holicharan’s defensive inabilities and the available free space to score.
#5 Goa’s disciplinary issues continue
Despite this inspirational win, the persistent headache of defensive indiscipline remains for Zico as Sahil Tavora became the third player in two matches to be shown a red card.
Owning to the pressure of the NorthEastern attacks, the Goan defense fumbled and started committing silly fouls. The challenge by Tavora on Seityasen Singh that earned him his second yellow of the night was totally unnecessary. Singh was just running in the midfield region when Tavora grabbed him from the back and brought him down.
The only relief for Goa will be that despite playing 10 men they could get better of a stronger NorthEast United. But in the coming matches, this is one area which Zico surely needs to take care of.
