Team Herald
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PANJIM: FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC became the first two teams in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) 2024-25 season to book their place in the National Championship at the Reliance Corporate Park, Mumbai, on Friday.
FC Goa started their National Group Stage campaign with back-to-back losses against Diamond Harbour FC and NorthEast United FC. However, they made a remarkable turnaround in the third game, defeating Jamshedpur FC 3-0 and following it up with another convincing win over East Bengal FC.
Coming into the game against Kickstart FC, the Gaurs direly needed three points to ensure qualification to the next stage of the competition.
They started the game on the front foot and broke the deadlock in the 11th minute. Malsawmtluanga’s corner was improperly cleared by the Kickstart FC defence and Prachit Gaonkar drove it inside the box first time as the ball landed in Vellington Fernandes’ feet and the midfielder made no mistake in scoring from close range.
FC Goa received a much-required boost in the game with the lead and showed more intent going forward. On the other hand, Kickstart FC pushed for an equaliser but couldn’t quite find a proper breakthrough.
The scoreline remained as FC Goa looked all set to pick up the three points and in came Lalthangliana to seal the deal for his side with a second goal in the dying seconds of the game.
The midfielder was left unmarked in the attacking third and he went on to dribble and score with a clean strike to make it 2-0, marking a superb comeback from the Gaurs in the competition.
FC Goa’s win also meant Jamshedpur FC, at 9 points, made the cut for the National Championship, regardless of their result against Diamond Harbour, as the two sides now await their semi-final opponents from Group B.
In the other match, NorthEast United FC ended their campaign with a 2-0 win over East Bengal FC.
Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam opened the scoring for the Highlanders with an acrobatic effort off the rebound, after the East Bengal goalkeeper spilled Huidrom Thoi Singh’s attempt from outside the box. The Red and Gold Brigade had a fair share of chances to level the scores but lacked finishing in the final third. In the end, Fredy Chawngthansanga put the game to bed in the 90th minute scoring NorthEast United’s second goal.
The midfielder was left unmarked inside the box and he made the most out of a perfectly-lobbed pass from Gunleiba, to latch the ball into the bottom right corner.