FC Goa defeated a determined Inter Kashi team in their opening game of the Kalinga Super Cup 2024, showcasing their skills in an exciting Group D match at the historic Kalinga Stadium on Friday. Amidst a flurry of action and calculated moves, FC Goa emerged victorious 2-1 thanks to goals from Carlos Martinez and Noah Sadaoui, while Inter Kashi’s Nikum Gyamar struck a late consolation goal.
FC Goa Head Coach’s Tactical Adjustments:
Manolo Marquez, the head coach of FCG, set the tone by making tactical adjustments to the Indian Super League (ISL) starting lineup. Notable changes included Jay Gupta and Odei Onaindia starting in defense alongside Narayan Das and Leander D’Cunha. Ayush Chhetri and Paulo Retre gave the team’s formation a dynamic presence in the midfield.
Highlights of the First Half:
Exciting moments marked the start of the match, with Goa goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh saving a strong shot from Kashi’s Edmund Lalrindika in the third minute. Captain Onaindia demonstrated his defensive prowess by saving a dangerous free-kick with a header. The first half ended goalless despite multiple efforts, including a near miss from Carl McHugh off a corner kick in the 24th minute. Inter Kashi showed strong resolve, blocking Goa’s attempts at attack.Enter your desired changes in this section. Then, press the button below to paraphrase. It really is that simple!
Drama in the Second Half:
Excitement spiked during the second half after Kashi’s goal was disallowed for offside in the 49th minute. But in the 58th minute, Noah Sadaoui, with help from Brison Fernandes, expertly found the far corner of the net with a precise finish from just outside the opposition box, giving FC Goa the lead.
In the 66th minute, Carlos Martinez doubled the lead with a deft play that Noah had started. Martinez was inside the box thanks to the Moroccan’s run down the left flank and a beautifully lobbed ball. Martinez scored his seventh goal of the year by deftly chesting the ball down, dodging a defender, and poking it over the diving goalkeeper and an onrushing player. Martinez showed incredible control throughout.
Nikum Gyamar responded to Kashi’s comeback in the 78th minute with an incredible long-range strike. FCG stepped up their attack in spite of the loss, and Noah, along with Boris Singh, Devendra Murgaokar, and Saviour Gama, created opportunities. But the Gaurs had to hang on to win 2-1 because they lacked the decisive bite.
Gazing Forward:
In defeating a fierce IKFC side, the Men in Orange demonstrated their tenacity and resolve. The emphasis now turns to their forthcoming Wednesday matchup with Bengaluru FC in the Kalinga Super Cup 2024. Supporters of Goa are looking forward to more exciting games and calculated moves from Coach Manolo Marquez’s gifted team as they continue their campaign.
FC Goa Starting XI
Dheeraj, Leander, Odei(c), Narayan, Jay, Carl, Ayush, Boris, Paulo, Noah, Carlos
Inter Kashi Starting XI
Arindam Bhattacharya (C), Kojam Beyong, Sandip Mandi, Anil Chawan, Sumeet Passi, Jordan Lamela, Fran Gomez, Julen Perez, Edmund Lalrindika, Asif Khan, Mario Barco
