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FATORDA: A Ferran Corominas double and Hugo Boumous heroics enabled FC Goa to a thumping 5-2 win against Mumbai City FC and take them three points clear at the top of the Indian Super League encounter at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.
Coro’s doubled meant, the Spaniard is back on track for the race for the Golden boot as he is now tied on 13 goals with ATK’s Roy Krishna at the top, though the Fijian striker has a game in hand.
FC Goa’s Boumous has been in terrific form for the Gaurs as he scored his ninth goal of the season and provided two assists helping Goa record their sixth consecutive home win for the Gaurs. Boumous is now on eight assists in this season. Jackichand Singh was the other goal scorer for the Gaurs while Mohammed Rafique scored an own goal to help Goa script five goals. Earlier Mumbai had taken the lead through Rowlin and then pulled another goal back through Bipin in the second half.
Goa suffered an early set back when they failed to deal with Mumbai’s constant pressure and in the 18th minute the defence was punished for their act when Subhashish Bose set up Rowllin Borges in the box, whose goal bound shot took a deflection off Mandar’s foot and crashed into the net.
Goa came with an instant reply as a quick attack from Jackichand, Hugo and Coro earner the equalizer. Jackichand Singh played the ball in the crowded box which, Hugo managed to nod to Corominas who continued his run in the box, and the Spaniard connected a brilliant right footer slamming the net from close to send the 11,814 fans into ruptures who were earlier silenced by Borges.
FC Goa were soon at their best. Their attacks were threatening than ever. In the 38th minute, Boumous headed in a Brandon corner kick, to score his ninth goal of the season. Hardly had the cheers settled and then Jackichand came with a cheeky finish when he chipped in to score from a tight angle to make it 3-1.
Mumbai City, who are fighting for their place for the knockouts came back strongly in the second half. They pressurized the Goan defence and successfully scored the second when the first goal scorer — Borges set up Bipin, who scored from his first time shot which took a slight deflection of his teammate before entering the goal.
There was moment of nervousness for Goa as Mumbai kept pressing and would have almost scored if not for the goalkeeping brilliance from FC Goa’s Mohammed Nawaz who denied Borges and Modou.
In the final ten minutes, Goa scored two more goals to take the final tally to five.
Boumous played Coro through on goal for his second assist of the evening and the Spaniard finished it in style to make it 4-2. Later in the 87th minute, Goa were gifted an goal whenenny Rodrigues shot took a huge deflection off Rafique and entered his own goal.
