ISL 2021-22: FC Goa edge SC East Bengal in chaotic seven-goal thriller

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:01 am

FC Goa celebrate after Perosevic's own goal gives them the lead at the stroke of HT against East Bengal.
FC Goa celebrate after Perosevic's own goal gives them the lead at the stroke of HT against East Bengal.
Faheem Hussain/Focus Sports/ ISL

FC Goa finally registered their first win of the season as they beat SC East Bengal 4-3 at the Tilak Maidan on Tuesday. SCEB, meanwhile, now replace Goa at the bottom of the table, with just two points in five games. Fourteen minutes into the match, Alberto Noguera scored his first goal of the season with a long-ranger.It was a powerful shot, but straight down the middle of the goal and Suvam Sen in the SCEB goal might have done better.

Antonio Perosevic (26') equalised soon, though, with a half-volley from a similar distance. An Amir Devisevic freekick rebounded of the Goa wall, and Perosevic thundered it in off the post. Dheeraj Singh, in the Goa goal, had no chance. As the match grew increasingly tense, Saviour Gama and Seriton Fernandes both received yellow cards in the first half for poor challenges. Jorge Ortiz (32') then regained the lead for his team by opening his account for the season from the penalty spot after Seriton was fouled inside the box. Dervisevic (37') equalised the second time for SCEB from a free-kick which caught Dheeraj off-guard, as it floated in from way out.

Just before half-time, though, Perosevic's own-goal (44') handed the lead back to Goa (for the third time), as he unwittingly deflected a Devendra Murgaonkar header into his own net.

Antonio Perosevic celebrates after scoring for East Bengal vs FC Goa.
Antonio Perosevic celebrates after scoring for East Bengal vs FC Goa.
Vipin Pawar/Focus Sports/ ISL

The second half started on a much slower pace until Perosevic (59') found the back of the net yet again. He scored from a one-on-one situation following an unforced error which provided the striker with time and room to pick his target. Adil Khan received a yellow card after the hour mark who came on as a substitute at halftime.

Noguera (79') scored FC Goa's fourth and his second after running on to a low cross from Ortiz. The Spaniard collected the ball in his stride and placed it towards the left side of the advancing goalkeeper. Raju Gaikwad then received a yellow card as well late into the game.

The fourth goal was enough to be the difference-maker as Juan Ferrando's men held on to the one-goal lead to record their first win of the season. The defeat means that Manolo Diaz's men are the only team yet to win their first match of the campaign.

FC Goa is up against Bengaluru FC in their next fixture at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Saturday whereas SC East Bengal will face an in-form Kerala Blasters FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Sunday.