The only goal of the match came in the 83rd minute when 19-year-old Enwer Annayev scored for Ahal FC. The late goal shocked the home fans, who had come in large numbers to support the Indian club.

Mohun Bagan, with stars like Jason Cummings, Dimitri Petratos, and Jamie Maclaren, had more possession and created chances but failed to score. Ahal FC, on the other hand, stayed strong in defence and took full advantage of one big opportunity towards the end.

The visitors looked confident from the beginning. In the first few minutes, they came close to scoring but missed the target. Mohun Bagan had their chances too, especially in the first half, but couldn’t finish. In the 37th minute, Cummings shot over the bar after a quick move with Sahal Abdul Samad.

In the second half, the home side pushed harder. In the 69th minute, Maclaren had a clear chance, but Ahal’s goalkeeper made a brilliant save.

Just when it looked like the game would end in a draw, Ahal made two substitutions that changed the game. One of them, Basim Gurbanberdiyew, played a perfect pass to Annayev, who calmly placed the ball past goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.

Coach Antonio López Habas was not happy with the result. After the match, he said, “We didn’t take our chances, and one small mistake cost us the game. Ahal took their chance well.”

Mohun Bagan also missed key player Manvir Singh, who was out due to injury. His absence was felt, especially in the attacking department.

With this loss, Mohun Bagan are now at the bottom of their group. Their next match is on October 21 against Sepahan in Iran. Only the top team from the group will move on to the next round, so the Mariners will need to bounce back quickly.

Final Score: Mohun Bagan SG 0–1 Ahal FC
Goal: Enwer Annayev (83’)

It’s a tough start for Mohun Bagan, but the tournament has just begun. The team still has a chance to turn things around in the upcoming matches.

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The philosophy remained unfettered as they rose up to the challenge in Asia’s biggest club competition. It was heartening for all the fans of Indian football as well, who can hold their heads high as the Gaurs rubbed shoulders against the biggest names in Asia and held their own.

After delivering a playoff appearance in his very first season in the Indian Super League and masterminding an AFC Champions League campaign that we all will remember for a long time to come, Juan Ferrando spoke in an exclusive interview with fcgoa.in looking back at his first season in India.

1. Looking back at the Champions League campaign, what are your thoughts about the performance of the team?

JF: I think players have performed on a high level and have done great as a team. However, this experience has shown us we need to improve many tactical aspects on the pitch so we can be more competitive at an international level.

2. We came quite close to a win a few times over the course of the tournament. How disappointed are you that we didn’t get a win?

JF: Obviously, I am disappointed as our mentality is to win every match we go into and try to get the best result possible. From a psychological point of view, it was tough to accept that we could not get a win. However, in the end, this shows us that in football one needs to be self-demanding and keep improving to be able to celebrate in the future.

3. How important do you feel the win would have been – both for the club and Indian football?

JF: A win would have been huge for Indian football. It would have been a historical achievement. Also, it would have been a just reward for the hard work that the players, the technical staff and everyone at FC Goa has been doing over the last months while living on a bio bubble.

4. You said at the beginning of the tournament that we have to be competitive while learning. Can’t lose 6-0 and say we learnt a lot. We lost only one game by a big margin. How happy are you with this fact?

JF: Obviously, I am not happy with any big margin loss as this means there were mistakes, be it individual or collective. However, the point is to spot these mistakes and go back to the pitch to work on them, to do one’s best and try to win every time.

5. What was your biggest challenge during the tournament?

JF: My biggest challenge was to prepare the team for all matches the best way possible, as there was just one day for training between matches. To play 6 high-level matches in just 20 days is challenging itself as there is no time for players to recover properly and for the coach to train them tactically to play the next rival.

6. How much will this experience make an impact on the performance of the players in the coming days, according to you?

JF: I hope they have learned about what playing an international competition means, the effort it requires to play at such a high level. I hope this gives them the motivation to perform even better in the training sessions in the future as these games require one to be at one’s 100% – physically and psychologically.

7. In which aspect do you think the team improved the most during the AFC Champions League?

JF: Focus. During the matches. I think it was very important to be focused at all times during the match – in every single action. This was a great lesson for us to play as a team for 90 minutes.

8. To everyone’s disappointment, you had to leave early. How keenly were you looking at that last game to script a win and how disappointed are you that you were not able to?

JF: I understand the situation we are in. It was the first time in my coaching career that I was watching a match so many kilometres away, unable to be with my team at such an important moment. Of course, we were hoping for a win and I was pretty nervous because I wasn’t able to communicate with players on the field.

9. Have you ever worked with a team this closely (since you were in a bio-bubble) for this long period of time? What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?

JF: I have been working in many countries and in many clubs, but never in such a situation. However, COVID has changed everything. I believe the most challenging part of it was related to psychology.

Being everyone far from family, friends, and without the option to have some mental rest outside the bio bubble was something we were not used to and made it more difficult for me to motivate players to keep doing their best.

10. Since this was a really new side, did the bio-bubble help in getting the players together?

JF: I don’t really think the bio-bubble helped much in that sense, as players also need to disconnect from work and see relatives. I think in the end, the most important is that everyone has given his best for the team. Covid was not been able to lessen our desire to continue working to show our best version as a team.

11. The initial results were a bit jittery. Did you get anxious or nervous at any point in time during this period? What helped the team to turn things around?

JF: Not at all. After all, I think the most important is to spot mistakes, better yourself, look for alternatives and give it your all. That’s football.

12. As a coach, what were your biggest learnings from the season?

JF: My biggest lesson would be that in football, as in life, one has never seen or experienced everything. After the difficult situation of the pandemic, we have all had to adapt to new demands. I learnt a lot about myself during this season.

13. How do you assess your first season at FC Goa?

JF: It was a new challenge to adapt to Asian football but I am happy to see youngsters have been able to compete on an international level and that we could perform as a team altogether, supporting each other and working for the group.

14. Any message for the fans who couldn’t make it to the stadium this season?

JF: I will never tire of thanking the fans for their constant support, their positive messages and encouragement through social media – to the players, the staff and the club.

During the Champions League, I was proud to see that we represented an entire country: beyond badges, fans were coming together to support the team that represented India internationally. We did our best to be up to the job.

CREDITS – FC GOA MEDIA

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Against Goa were the Asian giants, Persepolis from Iran, who were the runners-up in the previous edition alongside 4 time UAE league champions Al Wahda and the 8 times Qatar stars league winners Al Rayyan. But just as Persepolis‘s head coach Yahya Golmohammadi said, “FC Goa are here on merit, not by accident”, Goa gave a tough fight to everyone and showed that they belong here! 

The Gaurs finished third in their group behind Persepolis and Al Wahda with three points in six games. The three points came from 3 draws, two against Al-Rayyan and one against Al Wahda. However, they scored their first goal against the best team in the group, Persepolis. It was none other than Captain Edu Bedia on his duty, who scored a perfect header from a Brandon Fernandes cross. 

In their second encounter against Al-Rayyan, Goa almost registered the first win for themselves, but a late 89th-minute goal from Ali Ferydoon stopped them from clinching the first-ever win in the Champions League. On this, head coach Juan Ferrando said, “I  wanted to win for the people of India. It is difficult when you lose in the last minute. But, the truth is that we are playing against very good teams. It is a pleasure to play against Persepolis, Al Wahda and Al Rayyan.”

Juan Ferrando’s men deserve praise for their intensity and mentality throughout the tournament and for not giving up against such big teams. On the other side, there were some concerns in the attack for FC Goa. They averaged just 5.2 shots per game and 2.3 shots on target per game; these are amongst the least by any team in the ACL this season. 

The one who stole the limelight was goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh. A dream start for the 20-year-old goalkeeper to his career, where he had the best save percentage who has played a minimum of three games in AFC Champions League (86.2%). Also, he faced the most shots on target this season (29) in his five appearances and kept Goa’s hopes alive till the very last minute of every game, also because of his impressive performances he was a part of the AFC team of the week.

 

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This tournament will surely help FC Goa to learn and develop more. Fixtures of such high intensity and tough opponents teach you many lessons. We hope FC Goa can make their way back to AFC Champions League in the coming years!

There were many positive takeaways for Goa in this season’s ACL- 

• Unbelievable performance by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh.
• Defensive duo James Donachie and Ivan Gonzalez at their best.
• Counter attacking abilities of young players like Ishan Pandita and Brandon Fernandes.

Final scores of FC GOA’s games- 

1) FC GOA 0-0 AL-RAYYAN

2) AL WAHDA 0-0 FC GOA

3) PERSEPOLIS (18’ Mehdi Torabi (P) 24’ Jalal Hosseini) 2-1 FC GOA (14’ Edu Bedia)

4) FC GOA 0-4 PERSEPOLIS (24’ Shahriyar Moghanlou 43’ Mehdi Torabi 47’ Issa Alekasir 58’ Kamal Kamyabinia)

5) AL-RAYYAN (89’ Ali Ferydoon) 1-1 FC GOA (3’ Jorge Ortiz)

6) FC GOA 0-2 AL WAHDA (61’ Omar Khribin 90’ Mohammed Barqesh)

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He wrote, “Congratulations to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the successful organisation of the AFC Champions League 2021 (West) – Group E in India.”

“The success is no doubt a showcase of the dedication, hard work and relentless efforts of the AIFF and LOC in ensuring a high level of organisation despite the challenging circumstances.”

A total of 12 matches were held at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao, Goa from April 14 to April 29, 2021, featuring four teams in the group — debutants FC Goa (India), Persepolis (Iran), Al Wahda (UAE) and Al Rayyan (Qatar). It was also the first time that any AFC Champions League group stage match was held in India.

The letter continued, “Our appreciation goes to the LOC for the wonderful hospitality accorded to the AFC Delegation and the Participating Clubs and for all the arrangements made to ensure and safeguard the health and wellbeing of all concerned throughout the tournament.”

“Thank you, and we look forward to future collaboration with the AIFF following the successful completion of the AFC Champions League 2021 (Group Stage) – Centralised Matches.”

CREDITS – AIFF MEDIA

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FC Goa play their final game of their AFC Champions League journey against Al Wahda on Thursday at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The Gaurs sit third in Group E with three points from five games, and will be keen on ending their campaign with a victory.

But standing in front of them is an in-form Al Wahda side, and ahead of this group stage finale, let’s see how the two sides compare in this preview.

Al Wahda

The Emiratis are flying high after some terrific performances in their last few games, and look well placed to qualify for the Round of 16, especially if they pick up all three points against Goa on Thursday.

Al Wahda have accumulated 10 points from their five matches thus far, and sit second in Group E, just two points behind Persepolis FC.

The side from the UAE are hoping to advance as one of the three best runners-up in the tournament, but it won’t be easy, especially with skipper Ismail Matar missing due to suspension.

“It’s the last game for this group and even though the players are tired, I’m really looking forward to this match,” said Head Coach Erik ten Cate ahead of the game. “We’ve been playing in this competition with this bubble for three weeks. It’s not easy but we are managing thanks to the people here in India.”

The experienced coach also mentioned that beating FC Goa will be no easy task and that his side is up for the challenge.

“So we want to win but it will not be an easy game tomorrow as we have a couple of players suspended. It will be hard because FC Goa are still in search of their first win and they will do everything to get the three points.”

FC Goa

FC Goa have opened eyes all around the world owing to their defiant displays in their first ever AFC Champions League campaign, but a win in the tournament still eludes the Gaurs.

The Men in Orange were minutes away from sealing a historic win against Al Rayyan last time out, before conceding a late goal that broke Indian hearts. The spirit remains intact however, and a win against Al Wahda will go a long way in cementing Goa as one of the top debutants in the Champions League.

“Our plan is to be competitive and collect the three points tomorrow,” said head coach Juan Ferrando ahead of the game. “It may not be an easy task considering the recovery of our players but we must keep our concentration and perform.”

A win will be enough to seal third spot in a historical debut season, while a draw or defeat may also be enough, depending on the Persepolis-Al Rayyan result.

“Finishing third in the group of the AFC Champions League is not an easy task. As the head coach I’m proud of what my players and coaching staff have done so far,” Coach Ferrando continued.

“In the end the most important is to take the best decisions on the field tactically and hope that it will play in your favour. The key is staying focused and putting our best team forward.”

Juan Ferrando has been praised for his tactics as well as squad handling this season, and believes his players will stand up and be counted once again.

“These players are mentally strong in managing pressure so I think if I’ve substituted them in a previous match, there is no problem in their performance for the next match. I don’t see my players losing confidence. The target in every match and tomorrow is going to be the same.”

A grand finale on the cards

For all FC Goa fans, seeing their team play their final AFC Champions League match will be special, and a win would be just the icing on the cake during a tough period for India as a whole as the country battles a second wave of COVID19.

Goa will give their all against an Al Wahda side motivated by the lure of Round of 16 of the Champions League, which makes for an exciting contest.

FC Goa’s last Champions League game will be played on Thursday, 29 April with kickoff scheduled at 10:30 PM IST.

CREDITS: FC GOA MEDIA

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The Gaurs have accumulated three points so far in Group E of the ACL, having earned two draws against Al Rayyan (Qatar), and one against Al Wahda (UAE), while losing their two matches against last season’s runners-up side Persepolis FC (Iran).

Ahead of their last match against Al Wahda, FC Goa defender Seriton Fernandes stated that the Gaurs are motivated to create history by winning their last ACL match of the season for the people of India.

“If we win (the match against Al Wahda), we will dedicate it to the people of India,” said Seriton. “We will approach the last game like any other – with a view to get all three points. We have never wavered from that stance and we will continue to look for a victory, irrespective who the opponent is. That’s what we are all about.”

The Gaurs’ head coach Juan Ferrando underlined the importance of improving on the results that the Goan side has produced so far on the continent’s apex club competition.

“We need to improve further,” quipped Ferrando. “In football, we need to always think about where the points would come from. We are not thinking about the last game anymore. It is time to focus on the next game and find the best XI for that one.”

While Goa have earned three draws from their five matches so far, they came very close to a win in the last game against Al Rayyan, when Brandon Fernandes set up Jorge Ortiz for a third-minute strike. However, the Qatari side, coached by Laurent Blanc, who was a part of the famous French team that won the 1998 World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2000 as a player, struck back in the 89th minute through Ali Ferydoon to equalise.

FC Goa head coach Juan Ferrando earmarked the level of competition in the ACL, and stated that it has been a great experience for his boys.

“The Champions League is a very difficult tournament to play in. It has been a great experience for us, and we need to use this to improve further,” said Ferrando.

While Seriton expressed the side’s disappointment at not getting the three points against Al Rayyan, he echoed his coach’s words, stating that the AFC Champions League has been an experience to remember.

“We were all disappointed (after the draw against Al Rayyan). We were very close to a win. It was a tough game and just goes to show that you can’t take lose concentration even for a minute in this competition,” said the 28-year-old.“This is a whole new level of games for a lot of us. You have to stay focused on what’s happening in these games. There is less time on the ball than we are used to and the quality of the players up against us is really high,” he continued.

“It’s been an experience to remember. We have all gained so much confidence, having played at this level. And now that we have had a taste of it, we want more. We want to be back in the Champions League.”

CREDITS: FC GOA MEDIA

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FC Goa lost 0-4 to Persepolis FC on a disappointing night at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda for the Gaurs.

A new look FC Goa side took to the pitch with eight changes in personnel made by Head Coach Juan Ferrando a day after he suggested changes could be on the way due to fatigue of playing 6 games in the space on around 20 days.

Ishan Pandita and Devendra Murgaokar led the line for the Gaurs, while Naveen Kumar replaced the in-form Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem in goal. There were also starts for Redeem Tlang, Amarjit Singh, Princeton Rebello, Leander D’Cunha and Alexander Romario Jesuraj.  

After twenty four minutes of sparring and Goa holding their ground, Persepolis finally gained the advantage as a slide-rule pass played into the path of Shahriyar Moghanlu, who decided to shoot first time. The left footed effort was hit straight at the goalkeeper, but Naveen failed to get down low in a hurry, giving the Iranians the lead..

Goa’s stern resistance was broken, and they offered only one real effort on goal in the first half, coming from Alexander Romario around ten minutes after they conceded the opener.

The Goan nerves at the back showed again in the 43rd minute as Naveen fumbled a cross into the box and before miscommunication resulted in him fouling Issa Alekasir in the penalty area and in the process, conceding a spot kick.

The penalty was converted by Mehdi Torabi – his second from the spot in as many games against the Gaurs.

There was hope that the second half would bring some joy for the Men in Orange but that optimism disappeared quickly as Alekasir cut inside from the left and fired a shot past Naveen from inside the penalty area to make it 3-0 within two minutes of the restart.

Juan Ferrando decided to look to his bench for some impetus, but that decision came with troubles of its own.

Mohamed Ali came on for his first piece of action, and off his first touch, handed Persepolis a fourth as he failed to clear inside his own penalty area, and Kamal Kamyabinia was on hand to smash home in the 58th minute and pile on the misery for the hosts.

Naveen Kumar did make a couple of decent stops as the half went on, but the Iranian giants continued the pressure as they hit the post via a header from Mehdi Mehdikhani in the 73rd minute and enjoyed the luxury of replacing several of their top players to keep them fresh for future matches.

In terms of positives, Makan Chothe looked lively as he got some minutes under his belt, and Jorge Ortiz managed a shot on target deep into stoppage time, but Persepolis dominated throughout and saw the game out to take home three points for the fourth game running in the AFC Champions League.

FC Goa will hope for a better performance as they get ready to take on Al Rayyan on Monday, 26th April. That game is slated for a 10:30 PM kick off.

CREDITS: FC GOA MEDIA

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