FC Goa started with Plan A. Sixty minutes into the game ,
they switched to Plan B and nearly romped home with three points on an evening
that Mumbai City FC preferred to sew when they could have tailored – with the
numerical advantage of fit players- a win at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda.
A point for each may be a good result for the lads from
Mumbai but it has not blinded FC Goa’s hope of semi-final berth. With two home
and an away game left , the vision may be blurry for FC Goa . However, with
Zico providing the providence, the story cannot be submitted as yet.
The initial plan appeared to be to play ball possession.
With Chhetri, Forlan , Norde and Defedrico in form , there was nothing better
that could be done but hold and wait to hurt when the chance fell. It did not
happen for an hour and it was at this time Zico steered differently.
Zico moved because Miumbai City played sluggish. Their
attack lacked nerve and they lost the ball they showed little commitment in
getting it back. So, the ball rolled in the midfield with the defenders in both
camp giving the strikers little to play around with.
Chhetri was the lone to impress for Mumbai in the first
twenty minutes. Thereon , it was a question: are they listening to angels from Heaven ?
Mumbai City did have a few tries but on all occasions
Kattimani made the Bombay Pao Bhaji tasteless. He did not sweat much nor did
Amrinder in the rival citadel. This was until Zico threw in three midfielders
in place of defenders and FC Goa appeared to be ready for a canter.
Zico started with nine
Indian players and the team – with Gregory, Richarlyson and Rafael- kept the
boys from Mumbai away from trouble. Argentinian Defedrico had a bad day for
Mumbai , yet he lasted sixty odd minutes. Forlan appeared lost and Chhetri who
showed good skill initially petered later .
FC Goa appeared content
waiting for a decisive break – they did squander a couple of chances – but a
win would not have surprised any one.
Both coaches made
substitutions but it was Zico three, in quick succession, that kept the crowds
at the stadium glued to their seat till the very end. Till the very end, FC Goa
was at close distance of scoring. However, it seemed, that not all Brazilians
can have the ‘hand of God’.
As the first round of the
competition is nearing its end , it is glaringly obvious FC Goa started on the
wrong step with the wrong players. Yet, they have moved their cart so far.
Elven points from eleven matches is not a bad bag of statistics for a team on a
cart with assorted fruits and vegetables. FC Goa will not just need to win the
remaining three matches but hope results elsewhere help push them forward.
At this stage, FC Goa
cannot be ruled out because despite the changes and upheavals the team has
seen, the master has been constant- Zico. In the first year, when few expected
FC Goa to end with grace, Zico caressed them to the semi-finals. The next , as
he promised, he took FC Goa to the finals.
He has weathered rough storms and proved he cannot be intimated.
When the referee blew the
final whistle yesterday, it looked like Zicos was keeping the samba for the
end.
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