FC Goa came, they played and they let FC Pune City conquer
their first points of Indian Super league (ISL) 3. It was not travesty of
justice but a misdemeanour in a game that could have rightfully belonged to brand
Goa.
FC Goa started well and kept playing with fluent rhythm
until their former Brazilian stepped in with the Samba beat. His shot – the
first by a FC Pune player- hot the pole and the rebound coolly slotted in by Arata Izumi.
Kattimani was not to be blamed. However, he would have won
applauds had he reacted to the ball after it hitting the pole. It would have
been a saved that would have wiped the blemish of the first match.
FC Goa , however , came back into the game through a first
time clearance by Kattimani outside his own box. His long shot travelled to
Rafael who after out pacing Pune keeper Bete scored the equaliser and brought
back life into the fans that revisited Fatorda after a long, long time.
FC Goa’s first home game belonged to them and greatly to FC
Pune City’s goalkeeper Apoula Bete. The Cameroonian was at his best making the
tries from the boys from Goa look so simple. Good goalkeeping is knowing when
to be where and what to do when.
Defenders Fulganco Cardozo and Sanjay Balmuch , who played
as withdrawn defender in the first half, did themselves proud. So did Mandar
Rao Dessai - until he was substituted after sustaining an injury. The three
played with extra zest bringing a balance that gave Spanish Joffre plenty of
space to explore through the sides and the middle.
If Bete carried the day for FC Pune City , Joffre looked to
be Goa’s Christmas star. He was seen everywhere , at times taking two
Pune players simultaneously, taking and making space and falling back to help
the defenders. That he played hard is a fact that can be hardly overlooked by
any.
Coach Zico substituted Fulganco with Romeo in the second
half. Romeo had two clean chances to
take the tie away from the lads from Pune. The first time, Pune goalkeeper Bete
was the bête noire. The second time, Romeo blasted away an opportunity. He
should have kept the ball low instead of wasting it by ballooning it over.
FC Pune goalkeeper Bete was confidence personified; Goa’s Kattimani
appeared to be making amends to his first match faux pas. He was not confidence
personified nor was he a laggard. The two goals he let in were goals that could
be let in by many or even the best. This time, there were no errors of
judgement. However, it was evident, his wounds were healing.
Except for the two blemishes, the ninety minutes were FC
Goa’s and their fans. There was a lot of good football played by FC Goa but it
would have been better had there been goals. In football goals transcend into
wins and wins into points.
Two losses is not the end of the road. Through the two years
in ISL, FC Goa has proved to be a slow starter. Zico has kept his fireworks for
the end. The road could be similar this time too.
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