Bambolim
(Goa):
A brace from Nerijus Valskis helped Jamshedpur FC to their first win at this year’s Indian Super League (ISL) as they overcame FC Goa 3-1 at the SAG Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Friday evening.
The result leaves FC Goa still searching for their first win of the season after two ISL matches.
FC Goa coach Juan Ferrando rang in four changes with Aibanbha Dohling, Seriton Fernandes, Devendra Murgaokar and Jorge Ortiz making their first starts of the season.
FC Goa started the stronger of the two sides with an ebb and flow to their game. However, the lack of clinical touches in the final third meant that FC Goa failed to make too many inroads.
In fact, it was Jamshedpur with the first crack at goal as Komal Thatal’s effort from the left from a cleverly taken corner crept into the back of the net. However, that effort was waived off owing to offside.
The game again came to life in the last minutes of the first half but not the way FC Goa would have liked as FC Goa goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh came up big to deny Len Doungel and Nerijus Valskis the opener twice in the space of 4 minutes.
FC Goa came out strong in the second half with Edu Bedia and Alberto Noguera forcing TP Rehenesh into two fantastic saves within the first five minutes of the restart to keep things level.
Jamshedpur FC made FC Goa pay for their indecisive play in the 51st minute. Greg Stewart did well to lay it off for Valskis, who took a touch before slotting it clinically past Dheeraj with a low left-footed shot from outside the box.
Around 10 minutes later, Valskis made it 2-0 as he ran onto another Greg Stewart ball, this time from a free kick, to head home the second.
Despite a flurry of changes from the manager to get FC Goa back into the game, it was Jamshedpur FC who struck again. An innocuous flick on from Papuia saw substitute Jordan Murray did well to get ahead of Dohling, before flicking it beyond Dheeraj for the third goal for
Jamshedpur FC.
FC Goa did make a late push as Edu Bedia struck the crossbarin the 83rd minute. A minute later Airam Cabrera struck his first in FC Goa colours with a clinical finish following some good work from Ortiz on the left flank.
FC Goa will be back in action in the ISL on December 4, when they square off against NorthEast United FC.
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