PANJIM: FC Goa used to be accused of trying to pass the ball into the net, intricately threading it through holes and around defenders in the final third until the attack would, on many occasions, peter out. Yet this season their best results have come when they have had less of the ball.
Zico’s men still predominantly consume opponents with the passing ability of their technically gifted players, but they are developing an alternative to draw opponents in before springing into an effective, decisive attack.
Like a trapdoor spider, they wait for their unsuspecting prey before punishing them with a devastating bite.
After a horrendous 0-4 drubbing at home by Chennaiyin FC, the Gaur’s hastily checked their pace to win their Away game against NorthEast United FC, which boosted the team’s morale. FC Goa had a paltry 27 per cent possession. The 1-3 demolition of NorthEast saw them with just 44 per cent of the ball.
In their win against Delhi Dynamos FC they had a mere 41 per cent. In this ISL season, FC Goa have recorded two wins, one draw against Atlético de Kolkata when they have had 55 per cent ball possession, unlike the loss against Chennaiyin FC where they had 49 per cent ball possession.
FC Goa ‘s Brazilian legendary coach, Zico, stated that the team would be extremely guarded even though they are playing at Home against Kerala Blasters in their fifth round clash on Thursday.
This statement coming from a coach like Zico, once described by Pele as ‘the player that is closest to me’, deserves to be executed to the ‘T’ by their top flight players in tomorrows clash.
Zico has managed national sides such as Iraq and Japan and will look to deliver good results in the upcoming games.
“We have to be extra careful because the last game at Home was not a good one. Teams are doing well in Away games and we have to be aware of that. We have to play to our best potential and deal with this,” said Zico.
Zico will have to do without marquee player Lucio, midfielder Joffre Gonzalez and C.S. Sabeeth, all of who have failed to recover from their injuries.
“The defeat against Chennaiyin was a hard one but we had so many chances. One goal was disallowed and we were not awarded a penalty. May be 2-4 or 3-4 against a team like Chennaiyin FC was not all that bad but certainly not 0-4,” said Zico.
Kerala Blasters suffered a solitary goal reverse at the hands of Delhi Dynamos in the last game at Home with Richard Gadze scoring at the death. Trevor Morgan, Assistant coach, admitted they were not up to the task and hoped the players would come good against FC Goa.
“Against Atletico de Kolkata, for the last 15 minutes we were good and deserved to get something but for the previous 75 minutes we were just not good enough. We were poor the other night (against Delhi Dynamos) and the players know they did not perform. The best thing about this competition is that you do not get much time to dwell on anything since games come so quickly. This is an opportunity for us to get back to winning ways,” said Morgan.
Kerala Blasters, last year’s finalists, have four points from four matches but just one point from the last three games.
“Last year, after five games we had four points. Now we have four points from four, so we are in front. Our aim is to be in the top four,” said Morgan.
