FC Goa clinched a 2-1 win against Odisha FC in an ISL 2024-25 clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Thursday.
The Gaurs jumped to the second spot, replacing Jamshedpur FC (34), as a result of this triumph, having 36 points to their name.
Odisha had the first big chance of the contest in the 28th minute on the back of a fantastic free-kick effort by Ahmed Jahouh, who was making his 150th ISL appearance.
Stepping up to lead the set-piece wide down the left flank, Jahouh’s accuracy and the weight on the ball took the entire FC Goa backline by surprise. The ball rattled off the crossbar, but the home team quickly overturned this momentum with a patient build-up.
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Carl McHugh was at the centre of this move, slicing open the Odisha backline with a well-paced pass for Borja Herrera in the inside channel down the left side of the box. Herrera picked up the ball with a deft touch and squared it immediately for Brison Fernandes in the middle of the 18-yard area. Brison adjusted his feet and drilled the ball into the bottom right corner in the 29th minute.
Nine minutes later, Diego Mauricio tried to pull the Juggernauts back into the contest, as he earned a foul off Aakash Sangwan inside the penalty box. Sangwan was booked, and Mauricio undertook the spot-kick duties. Taking his time, he aimed for the right side of the net, but an alert Hrithik Tiwari showed composure and terrific reflexes to make an outstretched dive and make the important save.
The duo of Herrera and Brison came back to mount problems on the Juggernauts in the second half. As Iker Guarrotxena won a free kick, Herrera’s long ball was directed towards Sandesh Jhingan deep into the box. Mourtada Fall made a hasty clearance, and the ball landed at Brison’s feet. The attacker hurled in a powerful shot, which took a deflection off Lalthathanga Khawlhring, resulting in an own goal.
Sergio Lobera’s men dragged their way back into the game as they caught the FC Goa midfield in a slightly disoriented shape in the 54th minute. They hit the Gaurs on a quick counter, with Hugo Boumous unlocking their defence with an impeccable through ball, finding Rahul KP on the right side of the box. Rahul hammered the ball into the bottom left corner with an instinctive finish that could have opened the gateways for their comeback in the game.
To its credit, Odisha did engage in a fruitful period, causing troubles to the FC Goa backline post this goal, but its run was halted with Jahouh getting sent off in the 73rd minute.
Guarrotxena was carrying the ball forward from their half before the referee caught Jahouh for handball and booked him for the second time in the game, reducing the Juggernauts to 10 men.
Odisha struggled to create meaningful chances due to FC Goa’s numerical advantage after this, as the Gaurs held their lines together and notched their 10th win of the season.
