The Goan franchise came from behind to earn a point while the away team moved into the top four as well.
FC Goa managed to strike late and secure a 1-1 draw against NorthEast United FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Fatorda Stadium on Wednesday evening. Victory Mendy (55') gave the visitors the lead from a corner-kick before Reinaldo (80') drilled in the equaliser.
Zico opted to start with four forwards in Reinaldo, C.S Sabeeth, Victorino Fernandes and Dudu Omagbemi, in a 3-4-3 formation.
As many as five chances were in order for the visitors as A. Khongjee, Andre Bikey, S. Singh, Victor Mendy and the suspended Diomansy Kamara made way for Reagan Singh, Carlos Lopez, Simao Sobrosa, Silas and Sanju Pradhan.
The first chance fell to the visitors as Carlos Lopez’s header was cleared off the line by Leo Moura, after Kattimani failed to get his fists to the initial ball into the area in the fifth minute.
Goa’s shot stopper Laxmikant Kattimani made a meal out of a simple clearance as his kick struck Bruno Herrero and luckily came back into his hands. Couple of minutes later, Victorino Fernandes’ cross found Reinaldo at the far post. The Brazilian’s contact was weak and Dudu's subsequent effort went over the bar as Rehenesh was beaten.
Dadzie limped off in the 20th minute due to a hamstring injury and in came Victor Mendy.
In the 23rd minute, Pradhan’s shot from distance was spilled by Kattimani and just as Bruno looked to get on the end of it, Gaikwad cleared the danger. However, the defender picked up an injury while making that clearance and was substituted for Debabrata Roy three minutes later.
Simao scooped a ball for Pradhan inside the box whose volleyed effort went over the bar. Chances were rare and few in the latter part of the first half with the visitors happy to sit back and let FC Goa have the ball.
Zico introduced Narayan Das straight into the second half for Victorino Fernandes as they shifted to a conventional 4-4-2 formation.
Five minutes into the second half and NorthEast could have taken the lead as Simao’s corner found Hengbart whose flick came off the crossbar. Goa looked to up the ante with a Jonathan Lucca drive which stung Rehenesh’s fingertips yet again from 30 yards out, but failed to bulge the net.
The deadlock was broken on the night by the visitors, as first half substitute Victor Mendy headed home a Simao Sobrosa corner from point blank distance to stun the home crowd in the 55th minute.
Mandar sent in an inch perfect cross into the danger area in the 63rd minute, but neither C.S Sabeeth nor Dudu Omagbemi could get their heads to it.
FC Goa finally leveled proceedings in the 80th minute, courtesy Reinaldo, after Pranoy Halder’s cross was cushioned towards Reinaldo by Leo Moura, who blasted it in.
NorthEast responded almost immediately after Siam Hangal switched onto his favourite foot but his effort skimmed the post.
Substitute Nicolas Velez scored the winner in the 87th minute. This was after he rounded off Kattimani after receiving a through ball from Narzary. However, the linesman wrongly deemed the Argentine to be in an offside position.
In the injury time, Velez played a through ball for Narzary whose tame effort from the left saw Kattimani keep his effort out.
The draw takes NorthEast United back into the top four position while Goa remain rooted to the second slot.
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