In a fiercely contested battle at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, FC Goa emerged victorious over Punjab FC with a 2-1 win, marking their second consecutive home triumph in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season.
The night was marked by a thrilling comeback, as the hosts overturned an early setback to secure the three points. Punjab FC struck first, seizing an early lead in the 13th minute.
Asmir Suljic, in fine form, netted for the second game in a row, capitalising on a well-executed cross from Nihal Sudheesh, who had outpaced FC Goa’s Boris Singh on the left flank. With Luka Majcen’s clever dummy leaving the FC Goa defence flat-footed, Suljic calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari, sending Punjab FC fans into celebration.
However, the lead didn’t last long as FC Goa rallied with intensity. Driven by the energy of the home crowd, the Gaurs pushed forward in search of an equaliser, putting Punjab FC under immense pressure. Their efforts paid off in the 22nd minute when a creative link-up between Ayush Chhetri and Sahil Tavora freed Iker Guarrotxena in midfield. The Spaniard played a perfectly timed pass to Armando Sadiku, who deftly beat the Punjab defence and calmly struck the ball past goalkeeper Ravi Kumar. This goal extended Sadiku’s remarkable scoring streak to seven consecutive ISL games, placing him in elite company alongside Kalu Uche and Alaaeddine Ajaraie.
With the score level, both teams continued to exchange chances, but it was FC Goa who capitalised early in the second half. Just four minutes after the restart, Guarrotxena completed the Gaurs’ comeback with a goal of his own. Following a swift counter-attack, he found himself in a promising position and finished with precision to give FC Goa a 2-1 advantage.
Punjab FC manager Panagiotis Dilmperis responded with tactical changes, including the introduction of Mushaga Bakenga to add firepower. Despite their relentless search for an equaliser, Punjab FC was repeatedly thwarted by a resilient FC Goa defence, and goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari’s timely interventions.
For FC Goa, the standout performer was Iker Guarrotxena, whose vision and playmaking were crucial to both goals. Beyond his attacking contributions, he demonstrated discipline defensively, successfully completing 21 of his 30 passes.
With this win, FC Goa heads into the international break on a high and will next face Kerala Blasters away on November 28. Meanwhile, Punjab FC will look to bounce back when they meet NorthEast United at home on November 23.
