ISL 3: Goals Galore at Fatorda as host come up triumphs

by Chittu Shetty December 1, 2016

Nine goal thriller ends in host favour as the final games of both Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa saw young Indians among the goal scorers

Jerry becomes the youngest Goal scorer ever in ISL

Salil Tavora scored a dramatic injury time winner as Zico’s side come up triumphed in a game which saw a youngest Indian Goal scorer in Jerry lalrinzuala with curling freekick. Coelho, Arnolin, Jofre, Dudu, and Riise were the other goal-scorers for the evening.

Both coaches ringed in number of changes going in to the final match of their season. Anirudh Thapa made his ISL debut for Chennaiyin as Materazzi decided to go with just three foreigners.

In a lively atmosphere and a high tempo game, it was chennaiyin who took the lead from an unexpected source. After Richarlyson brought down Daniel yards outside the box, young Jerry came up with an incredible free-kick that looped over the ball and slid in to the top right corner leaving Kattimani stranded at his place.

But Goa came back two minutes later when Joffre’s through ball found Rafael Coelho who smartly slotted the ball past an onrushing Karanjit to level the scores. Chennaiyin almost scored a Immediate second through Dudu, who was denied by the post.

Chennaiyin finally took the lead in the 13^th minute when Young debutant Anirudh Thapa had his shot deflected in to the goal off Gregory to make it 2-1. Goa once again equalised within few minutes when Raphael Coelho was brought down inside the box. Joffre stepped up and smashed it past Karanjit to make it 2-2 in just 21 minutes of game.

Eight minutes later Chennaiyin took the lead for the third time in the game when Daniel’s through pass found Dudu, the big Nigerian got past the Goan defence before slotting past Kattimani to make it 3-2.

In the 42^nd minute Chennaiyin almost doubled the lead when Dudu found Daniel in the middle with space and time. However the youngsters shot was somehow cleared away on the edge of the goal line by Arnolin to keep Goa still in the game as both sides entered the tunnel with 3-2 score line.

Also Read: ISL 3: Highlanders beat Delhi 2-1, keep Play-off hopes alive

Sahil Tavora scored a screamer in the injury time as Goa won in their final game

Second half began on slightly slower note with Zico replacing Mandar with Salil to shore up the defence. However it was the substitute that scored the equaliser for the host.

In the 68^th minute, it was Coelho who made a brilliant solo run in to the box before getting his shot deflected off the chennaiyin defence and found an unmarked Tavora with an empty net to tap in the ball.

Goa grew in confidence and looked more potent in the attack. In the 76^th minute took the lead for the first time in the match when Sanjay found Coelho with a perfect through ball. The Goan forward didn’t disappoint as he once again beat Karanjit to take his tally to five goals this season.

With ten minutes left, Succi was introduced to get chennaiyin back into the game. Goa looked solid at the back at looked to make it through till the end however in the 87^th minute, one of the many Riise long throws was handled by Raju for Referee to grant the visitors a penalty, Riise steeped up and scored an unbeatable shot past Kattimani to make it 4-4.

However the drama was yet to end, in the last minute of injury time one of the long hopeful balls from Sanjay found Tavora on the run down left. The substitute got past one defender before lining up an absolute class strike from 25 yards to take the lead for hosts again.

And although Succi came close to levelling it back for the visitors with a deflected shot going over the bar, it was the Host that grabbed all three points at the final whistle.

With the game bearing no significance on the points table and play-offs places, both coaches ensured that youngsters got some crucial playing time and build up confidence and experience for the future.

FC Goa 5 (Rafael Coelho 5′, 76′, Jofre 21′, S. Tavora 68′, 90’+3) – 4 Chennaiyin FC (Jerry Lalrinzuala 4′, G. Arnolin 13′ (own goal), M. Dudu 28′, J. Riise 88′)