FATORDA: Antonio Habas continued his dominance over Zico as the Gaurs were defeated by FC Pune City 1-2, at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Saturday.
It was a dismal start for the Gaurs in the ISL Season 3 as Zico lost his opening two matches for the first time in his ISL era.
Pune City took the lead in the 25th minute through Arata Izumi before Rafael Coelho equalised for FC Goa before the half-time. Super-sub Momar Ndoye proved to be the difference by coming off the bench to score the winner in the 90th minute to secure first win for FC Pune City.
Zico made just one change in the playing eleven to his team that lost the first match against the Highlanders. Reinaldo was introduced in place of Richarlyson to add more attacking option to his team.
The hosts started brighter of the two sides with Joffre executing some brilliant moves in the midfield. It was in the 6th minute that Joffre was brought down on the edge of Pune City’s penalty area. Coelho took the free-kick, however, his strike which went through the wall lacked punch and failed to trouble Edel Bete in Pune City’s goal.
Pune City took on the game in the second quarter and troubled the rebellious FC Goa defence. The Orange Army finally made the breakthrough in the 26th minute to silence the home support.
Arata Inzumi put the Pune side into the lead after a thunderous shot from Jonatan Lucca was helped on to the post by Laxmikanth Kattimani. The ball rattled the frame of the goal and fell invitingly to an alert Inzumi, who tapped the ball into the net and give his side a 1-0 lead.
The Gaurs responded seven minutes later through Coelho, who got his first goal of the season to bring the home crowd back to their feet. Coelho ran on to a headed flick by Joffre before brushing aside Gouramangi Singh and slotting the ball past Bete in goal to make it 1-1.
Zico introduced Romeo Fernandes in place of Fulganco Cardozo to give more attacking options and the duo got two glorious chances to give his team the much deserved lead.
The pacey winger first shot directly into Bete after a quickly taken free-kick and then seconds later blazed over the crossbar in a one-on-one situation.
The visitors weren’t prepared to just sit back and defend though and had two opportunities of their own in the 61st minute. Jesus Tato was first denied courtesy of a goal-mouth clearance by FC Goa, while Lucca’s shot on goal from outside the area went straight into Kattimani’s arms.
Bete was called into action again in the 70th minute after Coelho played a ball out wide to find Fernandes on the right flank. Fernandes’ perfectly weighed cross was met with an acrobatic scissor-kick from Trindade Goncalves that the Armenian keeper parried the ball over the bar.
Zico made final change in the last 10 minutes as he substituted Mandar Rao Dessai and introduced young Sahil Tavora.
At the other end, Coelho unleashed another shot from distance seven minutes from time but Bete once again came to the Stallions’ rescue. It proved to be pivotal as substitute Ndoye received a pass from Lucca before turning Lucio and placing a left-footed shot into the top left corner in the 90th minute to seal his side’s first win of the season in spectacular fashion.
