ISL 2018-19: FC Goa 3-2 Delhi Dynamos FC – 5 Talking Points

FC Goa pulled off a dramatic comeback to beat Delhi Dynamos 3-2 at their home ground in Fatorda on Thursday. With this win, Goa leapfrogged others to claim the top position in the ISL table with 13 points from six matches, with second-placed Bengaluru FC on the same number points but played one fewer match.

The match was an end-to-end affair as the fortune swung from one team to another. Delhi were dominant in the first half but Goa roared back in the second and even after conceding a goal in 70th minute, they came back and claimed all the points that were on offer.

Delhi must be heart-broken considering the chances they had in the match. Yet to find a win after eight matches, Delhi are reeling at ninth position of the table with only four points.

Bikramjit Singh put the visitors ahead with a superb strike from well outside the box. Edu Bedia got the equalizer for Goa with a beautiful pass from Mandar Rao Desai. Delhi got their second when a back-heel from Nandakumar Sekhar was utilized by Lallianzuala Chhangte to beat Mohammed Nawaz.

With less than 15 minutes on their hand, Goa made a superb turnaround after super-sub Brandon Fernandes tried a shot from distance and beat Francisco Dorronsoro to keep Goa in the game. The home side got a free-kick just inside their opponents half and Hugo Boumous took a simple free-kick that was cleverly executed by Bedia to beat Dorronsoro.

We now take a look at the five talking points from the game:

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#1 Two eye-catching goals from distance

Delhi players have scored from distance in the past also. In their first match against FC Pune City, Rana Gharami scored from 35 yards, which is still regarded as the best goal of the season. Mumbai City FC’s Pranjal Bhumij also scored another from 40 yards few days later.

On Thursday, it was time for Bikramjit Singh. Adria Carmona found him lurking inside the opponent’s half and passed the ball. The Gurdaspur-born had all the time on earth to shoot the ball. It curled enough to beat Nawaz at the other end. Bikramjit celebrated wildly after scoring against his former side.

But in terms of the situation of the game, Brandon’s goal should come ahead. Goa were trailing at that time and the only thing they needed was a goal. Brandon, receiving a pass from Mandar, watched the movements of the goalkeeper before unleashing a shot which found the back of the net from the near post.

#2 Defensive woes for Delhi and Goa continue

Distraught Delhi players after conceding a late goal [Image: ISL]

Delhi should be the second worst team after Pune when it comes to defending. It’s surprising considering they have two fullbacks who are regular for their country. Pritam Kotal and Narayan Das have not done their job properly yet as Delhi conceded goals regularly from the two flanks.

Against a formidable attacking side like Goa, what the Delhi defenders needed to do was to stand in their position and thwart every attack that came in their ways. Martin Crespi and Gianni Zuiverloon were awful to say the least. During the first goal, neither of them marked Boumous nor saw the onrushing Bedia. The Spaniard scored with his first attempt to bemuse Delhi defenders.

Delhi conceded the second goal partly because of goalkeeper Dorronsoro. He kept moving on the left side when the ball was on the right flank and ended up conceding the goal from the first post. Goa’s third goal may have been scored from an offside position, but defenders can’t shrug off their responsibilities as Bedia followed the ball, jumped over others and flicked towards the goal cleverly.

Goa defenders also failed to learn from mistakes against Jamshedpur. They can score more goals than their opponent. But on any tough day, the defenders can let the team down, like they did against Jamshedpur. Goa defenders were allowing Delhi more space to attack. Mandar may have provided two assists but it was due to his constant overlapping that Delhi got some space to attack. Mandar failed to mark Nanda Kumar during the second goal.

#3 Chhangte could’ve scored four goals

Chhangte missed many good chances [Image: ISL]

Lallianzuala Chhangte was once again the most impactful player Delhi had on the pitch. He constantly ran from the left flank, created chances, provided passes, combined well with the strikers and did everything except doing the most important thing – scoring goals.

Chhangte found the net from a clever back-heel pass by Nanda Kumar. But that was an easy goal. Chhangte had enough chances to be the hero of the night. He could’ve added three more to his name, had every opportunity been converted.

Chhangte got his first chance on the half-hour mark when Daniel Lalhlimpuia fed him with a superb pass. All Chhangte could do was to shot straight to Nawaz. Few minutes after his goal, a near-perfect pass from Rene Mihelic found Chhangte on the far post. But the Mizoram-born could do little as his effort sailed over the bar.

He got the goalkeeper alone again but his effort went wide off the target. Another chance wasted 10 minutes before the end. Nanda Kumar crossed brilliantly and Chhangte had an open target in front of him. With no defenders marking him that time, Chhangte headed it over the bar.

#4 Delhi lost the game but showed the fighting spirit

Bikramjit Singh scored Delhi's second goal of the game [Image: ISL]

There has been much talk about Delhi’s lack of fighting spirit in the past few days. Back against the wall, Delhi came with a purpose against FC Goa. Sadly, they had to end up on the losing side again and must be ruing their missed chances after the game.

Delhi coach Josep Gombau handed young Daniel Lalhlimpuia another start and coupled him with Chhangte and Nanda with Adria Carmona behind them. Delhi started with an attacking mindset and got the goal immediately. They kept the pressure on Goa defence and could’ve scored two or three goals more in the first half itself. Delhi were using the set-pieces and counter-attacks more.

In terms of ball possession and passing accuracy, Delhi were on the same level as of Goa. They took more shots than Goa with four of them beiing on target. They created more number of chances but in terms of utilisation, Goa were much ahead. But the fighting spirit was there among the Delhi players and they need to keep that spirit going when they face Bengaluru FC after the international break.

#5 Super comeback from Goa

Edu Bedia celebrates his goal [Image: ISL]

It’s no secret that Goa coach Sergio Lobera doesn’t mind conceding goals until his side is leading in the game. Against Jamshedpur, the strategy didn’t work as the players had endured a rare off-form. On their home ground and shaking off the only setback, they were back at their usual best.

Even after the initial domination from Delhi, Goa didn’t hold back and replied with same aggressive note. Midfielders Hugo Boumous, Edu Bedia and Jackichand Singh were combining well to keep the pressure on their opponent. On two occasions, the home side came close to scoring but both the time they were denied by Dorronsoro.

Trailing by a goal, Lobera made two changes that tilted the game in their favour. Brandon came in place off Jackichand and scored with his first opportunity. Manvir could have got his name on the score sheet too but his header missed the target by a whisker.

The Bedia-Boumous relationship finally won the game for Goa. Before Boumous took the free-kick, Bedia gestured something with his hand, probably making the direction to which way the ball should come in. Boumous did exactly that and Bedia had no problem in converting.