FC Goa opens their campaign after a 6-0 win against Shillong Lajong in Guwahati
After a dominant first half with a 3-0 lead, FC Goa pushed themselves and kept on troubling the Shillong Lajong defence and scored another 3 goals in the second half.
This was Shillong Lajong’s second loss of the tournament. Rowllin Borges started the scoring spree for Goa as Victor Rodriguez and Carlos Martinez scored one each. Noah Sadaoui standout performance of the clash completed his hat trick.
Shillong Lajong tried to find at least one consolation goal in the 5 minutes of the injury times but they were unable to do so.
First-Half
FC Goa controlled the possession from the start. Brison Fernandes tested the Lajong goalkeeper from distance after a rebound of a corner. Noah Sadaoui was at his usual best keeping the Shillong Lajong side on their toes.
The Gaurs took the lead in the 15th minute through Rowllin Borges. Brandon Fernandes’s free-kick was flicked on by Devendra Murgaokar who fell on the path of Rowllin and who finished past the Lajong’s keeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh.
Within five minutes Goa scored again when Devendra Murgaokar was found by Brandon’s through ball. Devendra passed the ball beyond the rushing goalkeeper to Noah Sadaoui who finished by tapping the ball inside an empty net to double their lead.
The team did not wait long for the third goal as Noah Sadaoui scored in the 26th minute through a left footed finished after he was found in space from a pass by Brandon.
The rest of the half was played inside Shillong Lajong’s half as Goa continued to apply pressure in every attack. The score line remained the same at the end of the half.
Devendra Murgaokar who had provided two assists unfortunately sustained an injury and was replaced by Muhammed Nemil’s scoreline end of the lemon break.
Second-Half
The second half had no difference as FC Goa continued to maintain their possession and played attacking football. Brandon and Neil had chances to increase the lead but it was saved by the Lajong keeper.
Noah was in the thick of every action for Goa as he set up the fourth goal for the team. He rolled the ball to left-back Sanson Pereira who found Victor Rodriguez Romero in the middle of the box and finished past the goalkeeper in the 68th minute.
Carlos Martinez scored the fifth goal for the Gaurs in the 83rd minute. Noah’s cross was punched away by the Lajong keeper but hit the rushing Carlos Martinez and the ball deflected into the goal.
Noah Sadaoui completed a memorable match by scoring his hat trick in the 86th minute. He ran freely down the left and his initial shot was saved by the keeper but the rebound fell back for him and was converted with ease.
Shillong Lajong could not offer anything going forward as their first attempt came in the dying minutes of the half.
