A fixture that never disappoints, a fixture that has been played the most number of times in the history of the ISL and fiercefull rivalry between two giants of Indian Football. Matchday 92 lived upto it’s billing as a 4 goals thriller saw FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC play out their 9th draw of the season.
FC Goa’s winter signing Dheeraj Singh Moraingthem hasn’t had the best of the starts to life as a Gaur as time and again he has been put under pressure by the opposition and the story was no different this time around. He almost ended up giving Manuel Lanzarote a chance to open scoring and even made up for his mistake in the 3rd minute.
Jakub Sylvestr returned to the first XI and did not Csaba László down on his 57th birth anniversary as broke the deadlock after dribbling past FC Goa defenders with a swinging left footed finish into the bottom right corner.
But, yet again FC Goa switched themselves on and just six minutes later found an equaliser after a hand ball from Eli Sabia and the referee pointed the spot. Igor Angulo made no mistake in getting it past Kaith in the first attempt but it was ruled out because a few players entered the box before the spot kick but there was nothing to worry for the Gaurs as the Spaniard scored the equaliser.
10 minutes after the drinks break, Lallianzuala Chhangte released a shot on the turn but his efforts went wide and just 3 minutes later, Ivan Gonzalez made ‘the mistake’ of the match that could have costed FC Goa heavily as his misspass found Sylvestr but the Slovakian’s effort was ruled out by the woodwork.
FC Goa replied with an instant counter attack and Igor Angulo forced Vishal Kaith into an excellent save in what was the last piece of action in the first half.
The Gaurs began the second half on the front foot. Alexander Jesuraj’s low cross into the box found Glan Martins who brought Vishal Kaith into action and Kaith did ever so well to deny FC Goa a lead.
Dheeraj made no mistake in denying Jakub a brace and Chennaiyin a lead in the 53rd minute but a few minutes later Lallianzuala Chhangte probably the easiest goal in his career as some miscommunication between Dheeraj and his defense gifted Chhangte an empty net and he made no mistake.
The two time champions were on the verge of victory but yet Ishan Pandita spoiled their party. Juan Ferrando’s trump card scored his fourth goal of the season in stoppage time courtesy of a great ball from Alberto Noguera. Both FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC played out their 9th draw of the season as the full-time score read 2-2.
Hero of the Match: Ishan Pandita
Another day, another rescue mission accomplished by the young Indian forward. Ishan Pandita has been the perfect definition to a ‘Super Sub’ and it seems he loves to snatch the three points from the mouth of FC Goa’s oppositions.