FATORDA: It isn’t all over bar the shouting. At least not quite yet. But in the breathtaking silence that fell in Fatorda, as the long whistle signaling the end of FC Goa’s game number 14 against old nemesis Chennaiyan FC, we all heard the sound of breaking hearts.
CHENNAIYAN 1, FC Goa 0.
A team, which was tipped and could have been the first to make it to the play-offs with their attacking football and exceptional play, have been struggling and slip sliding. The Gaurs have managed to grab just a single point in their last four games, their worst run in the league under coach Sergio Lobera.
The performance have been dipping — game after game — as the Gaurs failed to score for the second time in the league on Thursday, following their 0-2 defeat against Bengaluru FC.
Its was evident, the
visitors would defend and break on the counters considering Goa’s attacking play, and same was witnessed on Thursday night at Fatorda. Despite the keeper change under the bar, Naveen Kumar yet again couldn’t keep a clean sheet. The custodian failed to influence the ever-settling Goa’s back line as they failed to contain the few Chennaiyin counters.
Going forward, the strikers were decent enough and were denied by the woodwork on various occasions. With four games to go, Lobero will have to find the rhythm back again to lead his team into the play-offs.
Initially the Gaurs washed away last season’s nightmares with a wave of optimism —registering four wins in their first five encounters and scoring nineteen times, making them arguably one of the best attacking force the ISL had ever witnessed.
Transiting from Samba to Tiki-Taka football, nobody expected the Gaurs to get off to a start that they had enjoyed, thanks to the leading goal scorers Ferran Corominas and Manuel Lanzarote.
However, after 13 games down, the Gaurs now stand sixth on the table. Isn’t it bemusing? But it was inevitable. As much as the Gaurs have been extraordinary upfront, they have been ‘exceptionally’ poor at the back.
In the first five games, what was overlooked was, despite scoring 19 times, the Gaurs conceded nine goals, which has been their worst record so far. The Gaurs went on to concede 26 goals in 13 games.
(In season one, FC Goa scored 21 goals and conceded 12 in their league campaign (14 games); in season two, Goa scored 29 and conceded 20; the season three wasn’t one of the best, as they scored 15 and conceded 25.)
Only Delhi have conceded more goals (30) than this Goa side, who are considered to be the tournament favourites. However, their defence is leaving an otherwise potent side looking short of what is needed to challenge the honours.
The saying goes true …“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. Sergio Lobera’s biggest aim of the season still remains unachieved — the ‘clean sheet’.
Mohammed Ali hasn’t quite settled into his role alongside Bruno Pinheiro in the heart of Goa’s defence. The lad has been improving in every game but at times his poor decision-making and man marking has let him and the team down.
While Seriton Fernandes and Narayan Das have been decent going forward and supporting attack, the duo have been in poor form defending their own goal. Narayan Das, who has been like a sore thumb and has not been able to replicate his best performance in this edition.
Bruno Pinheiro, the only overseas player in the defence, is decent enough, but his physicality and recent injuries isn’t helping the team much and his pairing alongside Mohammed Ali has failed to build the chemistry to form a rock solid wall.
Goalkeeping woes!
Finally, Laxmikant Kattimani — the name cried by the fans after every game. Win or lose, on every match day, the keeper finds himself associated to at least one goal conceded by the team. The shot-stopper hasn’t been at his best form this season.
Kattimani, who once stood out in FC Goa colours, hasn’t been the same as before. His poor goal kicks, miss-timed passes and ball collection has cost the team.
Kattimani has finally been benched but the clean sheet with Navin Kumar under the bar hasn’t yet happened with the young keeper conceding three goals in two games
“Goa’s defence is a bit sloppy. When they attack their defenders lose their concentration and there is always that extra space between the stoppers at the back, which let in the attacks with ease, said former India captain and goalkeeper Brahmanand Sankhwalkar.
