ISL 2018-19: FC Goa vs Jamshedpur FC: 5 Hits and Flops
Cesar Ferrando's Jamshedpur side earned a point away from home in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Fatorda Stadium as they kept a clean sheet against the mighty FC Goa. The match finished 0-0 with the second half seeing much more clear-cut chances compared to the cagey first half.
Sergio Lobera kept his new signings on the bench as he preferred Md Nawaz between the sticks to the new signing Naveen Kumar, who was on the bench alongside another new signing in Zaid Krouch. The away side manager also kept the likes of Bikash Jairu and Tim Cahill out of the starting XI.
The Steelers went closest to scoring in the first half as Sergio Cidoncha's 25th-minute free kick skimmed the side netting with a shot fired wide in the next minute. Goa also saw two missed chances in the first half as their players failed to find the target.
In the last 15 minutes, Goa sparked a double save from Subrata Pal, who was the hero once more for the away side as he got his fingertips to the ball in the last minute to ensure his clean sheet.
Let's take a look at five hits and flops from the match:
#1 Hit: Sergio Cidoncha
Sergio Cidoncha on his return from injury was the most dangerous player on the pitch in the first half. His 25th-minute curling free-kick, which hit the side netting, was the closest any side could get to scoring in the first 45 minutes. His back-heel pass in the next minute also led to a chance that was fired wide by one of his teammates.
With Carlos Calvo suspended for three matches for his racist remarks, Cido's return couldn't have come at a better time for his side as he helped Farukh Choudhary up front in attack with Michael Soosairaj and Pablo Morgado supporting from the wings.
#2 Flop: Mario Arques
Mario Arques was playing with Memo as the second holding midfielder for the Steelers but was surprisingly awarded the most clear-cut chances of the match to score. While he was decent in his own half of the pitch, it was the opposition half where he disappointed.
Just after the hour mark, the 27-year old midfielder arrived late for a cross that lacked any sort of pace and misplaced his header over the bar as he spurned a golden opportunity. Ten minutes later, Arques got in between the centre-backs and was the focal point of a good cross but the Spaniard wasn't able to hit the target once again as his side failed to take all the three points from the Fatorda Stadium.