MARGAO: Despite creating several big chances and keeping control over the proceedings for a greater part of the game, hosts FC Goa had to wait until the 82nd minute to ensure three points against Jamshedpur FC at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Monday.
Victor Rodriguez’s late goal, which handed the Gaurs a 1-0 win, also resulted in them getting back to top spot on the league standings, with 16 points from six matches.
Earlier in the day, Goa head coach Manolo Marquez made just one change to his playing XI that started in their recent win over Chennaiyin FC, as Noah Sadaoui returned from his injury layoff in place of Rodriguez.
The match then kicked off with an early chance for the hosts in the 6th minute, as Rowllin Borges attempted a spectacular shot from close to the halfway line. Jamshedpur FC goalkeeper Vishal Yadav, however, made a tidy save to deny the Goan midfielder.
The chances kept coming for FC Goa, with Noah Sadaoui and Boris Singh testing the opposition's defence soon afterwards. Vishal Yadav continued to be a formidable presence between the posts for Jamshedpur, denying the Gaurs’ attempts to find the breakthrough.
The Men of Steel had their moments as well, with Steve Ambri coming close in the 9th minute, only to see his shot graze the side netting.
As the first half progressed, the intensity of the game increased. Jay Gupta's brilliant cross to Boris Singh in the 15th minute created another scoring opportunity for Marquez’s boys, but a deflection off a defender resulted in a corner-kick.
Following the change of ends, in the 52nd minute, Noah Sadaoui unleashed a curling shot towards the far post that beat Yadav but struck the crossbar. Jamshedpur FC's
Nikhil Barla then attempted to make an impact with a long-range shot in the 62nd minute, but it went wide of the target.
FC Goa responded with an impressive play in the very next minute, as Brandon Fernandes delivered a precise cross to Victor Rodriguez, who narrowly missed the target with his attempt at the top left corner.
The Spaniard then made amends in the 82nd minute, when he nodded home from a lobbed pass by Udanta Singh to score a much-awaited goal for the hosts.
Three minutes later, Jamshedpur FC seemed to have equalised through Seiminlen Doungel, but the strike was eventually ruled out for off-side. The match thus ended
in a hard-fought 1-0 win for Goa, their fifth victory in six matches so far this ISL.
With that, the Gaurs also extended their unbeaten run in the league to six games.
Next up for Manolo Marquez’s boys is yet another assignment at home, this time against Kerala Blasters who are currently second on the points table. The clash will take place on December 3, with the kick-off scheduled for 8 pm.