FC Goa Grinds Out 1-0 Win Over Sporting Club Delhi to Lead ISL Standings
In a tightly contested Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao, on Thursday, FC Goa managed a narrow 1-0 victory against Sporting Club Delhi. The win propelled Goa to the summit of the points table with seven points, while Delhi remained anchored at the bottom after suffering their third consecutive defeat.
Drazic's Decisive Strike Secures Crucial Points
The match's lone goal came just before halftime, courtesy of Serbian forward Dejan Drazic. In the 43rd minute, a precise long ball from Aakash Sangwan exploited a lapse in Delhi's defense. Drazic, demonstrating impeccable timing, sprinted past the backline and calmly slotted the ball past Delhi goalkeeper Nora Fernandes. This marked Drazic's third goal of the campaign and his first from open play, having previously converted two penalties.
Despite the breakthrough, Drazic had a mixed evening. In the second half, he missed a golden opportunity to double the lead when he skied a penalty over the bar in the 58th minute. The penalty was awarded after Ayush Adhikari handled the ball inside the box, with referee Jamal Mohamed initially allowing play to continue before Goa's protests led to the decision.
Goa's Dominance and Delhi's Resilience
FC Goa, under head coach Manolo Marquez, made only one change to the starting lineup from their previous win, with Ishan Pandita replacing the injured Muhammed Nemil. The home side displayed fluid attacking play, especially in the second half, but were repeatedly denied by Delhi's determined defense.
Key moments included:
- An early glancing header from captain Sandesh Jhingan that sailed just wide.
- A close attempt by Ishan Pandita whose right-footed shot narrowly missed the top corner.
- A goalline clearance in the 73rd minute to deny Sahil Tavora, preserving Delhi's slim hopes.
Delhi, coached by Tomasz Tchorz, put up a spirited fight despite their winless start to the season. Serbian midfielder Matija Babovic attempted to break the deadlock in the first half, but his effort failed to trouble Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari. The team's defensive efforts, however, were not enough to avoid another loss.
League Implications and Upcoming Fixtures
With this victory, FC Goa now leads the ISL standings with seven points from three matches. They are closely followed by East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City, and Jamshedpur FC, all tied with six points after two rounds. Sporting Club Delhi, in contrast, languishes at the bottom with zero points.
Looking ahead, FC Goa faces a challenging schedule with three consecutive away games:
- Against East Bengal on March 5
- Versus Punjab FC on March 16
- At Chennaiyin FC on March 22
The team will then return home to host Bengaluru FC on April 4, aiming to maintain their top position in the league.
This match underscored FC Goa's resilience and tactical discipline, even as Sporting Club Delhi demonstrated they are no pushovers, making the home side work tirelessly for the three points.
