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FC Pune City recorded their second win in as many ISL games as they upstaged FC Goa by a scoreline of 2-0 at the Balewadi Stadium.
A jaw-dropping goal from Marcelinho and a 94th-minute penalty from super sub Stankovic put the game beyond Sergio Lobera's side, who could slip outside the Top 4 if Jamshedpur FC take away all three points against a hapless Delhi Dynamos FC.
The first half didn't see too much from either side, but the fixture opened up in the later stages of the second half, with both teams going for all three points.
The visitors dominated possession and racked up more passes, but lack of conviction in front of goal and a slice of fortune for the opposition led to their second defeat in three games.
Here are the five major talking points from FC Pune City's 2-0 victory over FC Goa.
#5 FC Goa build possession early on, Pune look sluggish early on
Right from the outset, FC Goa began to showcase their attacking flair and firepower. In the very first minute, through their first attack, they won a corner. Coro got his shot away but was blocked by a packed Pune defence.
The hosts meanwhile, looked out of steam and lost the ball in advanced positions in the early exchanges.
Ashique Kuruniyan was dispossessed early on while trying to take on the opposition fullback, and that was arguably FC Pune City's only chance in the first 10-15 minutes or so.
Adil Khan got the home fans off their seat, as his cross came through everyone to the path of Robin Singh, who was a little bit static.
The biggest chance for Pune though, came when Hume spotted an opening and split a high Goa defence with a long ball. Marcelinho was at the end of the ball, but Seriton Fernandes' heroic sliding challenge prevented a certain goal.
Meanwhile, in his follow-through, Marcelinho stamped Mohammad Nawaz. Moments later, Robin Singh won the ball high up the pitch, played it through to Hume, who set it up for Jonathan Vila. The latter's fierce shot though was blocked.
Brandon struck a couple of fine shots at goal but was denied by an outstanding Kamaljit Singh. Mandar Desai and himself threatened big from the left-hand side.
Pune on the other hand, looked slow, defensively flattened and sluggish.
#4 The first half turned out to be a bore fest
The first half saw one attempt on target from each side. Sums it up, doesn't it?
Goa weaved a host of attacks through fine build-up play, but none of their players carved out an end product.
Brandon cut inside to get his shots away from a favored right foot, Coro set up a couple of chances, but there was nothing apart from that. All in all, the Gaurs certainly didn't match their standards.
While parrying the ball away, Kamaljit almost punched in into his own net. Meanwhile, a tame effort from Marcelinho's right foot ended up straight into Nawaz's gloves. That was it from both sides.
The dying stages of the first half saw the best chance of the game until then when Edu Bedia was denied by the woodwork. On the back of some good interchange of passes down the left, Mandar found Coro at the near post.
The Spaniard didn't turn and get his shot away but instead laid it for Bedia, who did everything right. Unfortunately, he rattled the crossbar.
#3 FC Goa get into the act after a slow start in the second half
The second half started just like the first - slow, weary and lackluster. Till the 55th minute, it was all settling in leisurely.
However, FC Goa completely shifted gears and began to run riot in the opponent's final third. Although they recorded two shots on target in the whole of the second half, this spell of sheer dominance saw them infuse a sense of confusion amongst Pune ranks.
It started with a 25-yard free-kick from Edu Bedia. The keeper was scrambling but the Spaniard's shot was just above the face of goal. A couple of minutes later, the hungry Coro received the ball in the middle and darted forward.
He skipped past and avoided three-four challenges, but his stunning solo run was halted by the last defender. Down the other end, Nawaz had to make a save off a Nim Dorjee header on the back of some good work by Ashique. All of a sudden, the game had come to life.
Minutes after the save, Boumous intercepted a pass and set Coro up. The sharpshooter's effort was once again blocked. Another shot, another block followed, as Edu Bedia was denied by a well-positioned Sarthak Golui.
Kamaljit, who enjoyed a fantastic outing between the posts, thwarted another attempt from Hugo Boumous.
#2 Marcelinho scores an absolute screamer
70th minute of the match. Reddy decided to throw on the pacy Diego Carlos at the expense of marquee man Marcelinho. A few seconds later, the same man who was about to be taken off, scored an absolute golazo.
Rewind to the 65th minute, FC Goa's defenders were getting shots away and FC Pune City were almost caged at the back.
However, as they have done so far this season, the hosts relied on their counter-attacking prowess and through the forward, launched a couple of fierce strikes on goal.
Marcelinho pick-pocketed the rather sturdy Mourtada Fall and with his weaker foot, was destined to find the back of the net. But, an outstretched arm from teenage sensation Mohammad Nawaz kept the scoreline to 0-0.
However, they couldn't keep the FC Pune City striker quiet for any longer. He was picked out in the middle of the pitch with acres of space to exploit.
No one knows where the Goa midfield was, and owing to their lazy approach, Lenny Rodrigues and Jahouth were ultimately punished.
The goalscorer brought the ball to his left and struck the ball with venom. No one closed him down and Nawaz's fingertips weren't enough to keep him out.
#1 Did the long break prove to be FC Goa's nemesis?
After five wins from their first seven fixtures, FC Goa are now winless in three games and all of a sudden not so comfortable.
With 17 points from 10 games, they will now have to muster a run of positive results and close the gap of Bengaluru FC.
Their previous game, prior to this one, was on 28 November against ATK. While a 14-day long gap provides a chance for teams to regroup, revitalize and go out there with charged batteries, the Gaurs unfortunately and uncharacteristically, looked rusty and slow.
The major problem was their speed while moving the ball from defence to attack. With the possession-based philosophy introduced by Lobera, the defenders were expected to move it quicker, while the men at the center were supposed to close down the distance between themselves and the last line - something that neither party conducted.
As aforementioned, FC Goa will have to reassemble, script out a clear, fast-paced game plan and stick to the basics, just like they did in the early days of the campaign.
