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FC Goa obliterated Northeast United FC 5-1 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa to end 2018 (ISL 2018-19) on a high note. After a dry first half, the game saw six goals pouring in on the second half. Northeast United FC was denied a penalty after Carlos Pena handled down the ball from a corner kick.
It dripped the confidence of the visiting players and, FC Goa took full advantage of it. Ferran Corominas discovered his lost scoring boots by tapping in Jackichand Singh's cross to draw first blood for the Gaurs. The home side doubled the lead ten minutes later when Edu Bedia chipped the ball past the rival goalkeeper.
A neat triangle between Edu Bedia, Brandon Fernandes, and Hugo Boumous saw the latter giving FC Goa a three-goal cushion. Coro showed no mercy as he completed his brace after doing a one-two with Hugo Boumous.
Northeast United FC did pull one back through Bartholomew Ogbeche at the 91st minute, but FC Goa restored their four-goal lead thanks to a solo effort from substitute Miguel Palanca Fernández. The Spaniard could have made the scoreline a tennis one had he not squandered his opportunity at the dying embers of the match.
Here are the hits and flops from the game:
Hit- Ferran Corominhas (FC Goa)
Ferran Corominas hadn't scored for FC Goa since their 3-1 win against Kerala Blasters. It affected the morale of the Gaurs immensely as they failed to win the next three matches. Coro knew that his team required him to find the back of the net and, he didn't disappoint them.
Hugo Boumous spotted Jackichand Singh's run in the right wing and, the Indian international passed it towards the Spaniard to break the deadlock. The replays, however, showed that Jackichand was offside.
Coro's second goal came at the 84th minute after Rowllin Borges made a howler of giving Coro the ball at the defensive third. The 35-year-old did a one-two with Hugo Boumous before punishing the goalkeeper to become the joint leading all-time goalscorer in the ISL history.
Flop- Robert Lalthlamuana (Northeast United FC)
Robert Lalthlamuana had an abysmal game against FC Goa on Friday. The left-back was unable to contain the duo of Jackichand Singh and Seriton Fernandes on their right wing and allowed a handful of crosses from them in the first half.
Reagan Singh, the other full-back, had a decent game in the first half as he checked Brandon Fernandes' run. The center-back Mato Grgic had to cover for Robert who was continuously bamboozled by Jackichand Singh.
The former East Bengal left-back was substituted at the 48th minute by Keegan Perreira. He did manage to catch Jackichand Singh offside in the build-up to the first goal, but the flag stayed down. The 30-year-old needs to pull up his socks if he doesn't intend to lose his spot in the Highlanders' starting line-up.
Hit- Edu Bedia (FC Goa)
Edu Bedia is the silent killer in the FC Goa setup. While the defenders and midfielders mark out Coro and Brandon Fernandes, Edu Bedia gets a lot of free spaces to smother the ball home. He had already done it four times for the Gaurs this season and on Friday, he made it five.
The Spaniard gave the home side a two-goal cushion after latching onto Hugo Boumous' through pass and overcoming Gurwinder Singh's challenge. Pawan Kumar already committed himself by kneeling downwards allowing Edu Bedia to lob the ball above his head.
Edu Bedia spotted Brandon Fernandes' run in the wide side of the pitch who laid it on a platter for Hugo Boumous to triple the lead. FC Goa looks so deadly in the pitch due to their passing in the attacking third. Edu Bedia is one of the reasons behind it.
Flop- Gurwinder Singh (Northeast United FC)
The referee's decision to not award Northeast United a penalty in the second half hurt the morale of the team immensely. Gurwinder Singh seemed to have been affected by it the most as he committed two grave errors later on that took the game away from the Highlanders.
In the build-up to the second goal, he committed for a sliding tackle way early allowing Edu Bedia to jump past him. The Gaur had a clear shot at goal and kept his cool to fire it home.
A minute later, he was nowhere to be found when the Northeast United defense required him. The former Kerala Blasters defender was a yard or two ahead of the back four and allowed Edu Bedia, Brandon Fernandes, and Hugo Boumous to complete a triangle inside the attacking third effortlessly.
Hit- Hugo Boumous (FC Goa)
Goalscorers often take the credit for all the hard work put in by the team members. While the crowd and commentators might be praising Coro's brace, Hugo Boumous was the unsung hero for FC Goa's match against Northeast United FC.
At the 59th minute, it was his initial pass that Jackichand Singh crossed towards Coro to draw first blood. At the 69th minute, it was his laser-like vision and through pass that allowed Edu Bedia to write his name into the scoresheet. At the 84th minute, it was with him that Coro did a one-two to give FC Goa a four-goal cushion.
Hugo Boumous did score the third goal for the Gaurs thanks to Brandon Fernandes. But, it was the Moroccan's night at the Fatorda on Friday which got overshadowed by Ferran Corominas.
