ISL: FC Goa 2 Delhi Dynamos 1 – Tolgay's last gasp strike earns FC Goa their maiden win
FC Goa registered their first win if the league as they scored in injury time, while Delhi Dynamos slumped to their first defeat in what was an interesting encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Fatorda), Goa that ended 2-1 in favour of the home side.
Delhi Dynamos went ahead in the 7th minute through Mads Junker, before FC Goa finally managed to equalise in the 73rd minute through Jewel Raja after a series of failed attempts. The home team then went on to score another in the 93rd minute, courtesy their Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey to end up with their first 3 points of the ISL.
Both teams made tinkered with the line-up with each making four changes a piece. Zico got in a few fresh legs with Mandar Rao Desai, Jewel Raja, Romeo Fernades and Slepicka all making their debut start for the team, while Delhi Dynamos brought in Francis Fernandes, Adil Khan, Morten Skoubo and Stijn Houben.
The game started on a high tempo with FC Goa in ascendency as the home team saw three good chances, each closer than the other, being wasted inside six minutes with Slepicka hitting it straight to Van Hout, Narayan Das hit the post before Santos hit a vicious volley only to see it head wide of the far post.
But it was the away side that went ahead in the 7th minute with a goal from their striker Mads Junker. Hans Mulder spread the ball beautifully from the centre of the park wide to Bruno Arias, who sends it in first time through a delicious cross to find Junker, whose initial steer was going wide, before the Dane recovered well in time to tap it in.
The game evened up by now, maintaining the healthy momentum with both teams having an odd chance just as FC Goa suffered a blow. Already missing Pires from the ranks, FC Goa had to deal with the loss of their Brazilian playmaker Santos, who suffered a niggle and could not move freely.
Despite the blow, Goa kept on going and had as many as 3 gilt-edged chances, which did not turn out as expected. First Amiri, who had replaced Santos and then Gregory Arnolin, missed from less than 5 yards out. Delhi too had a chance go begging with Junker unable to make the right kind of contact, ending the half with the away team leading by a solitary goal.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first ended with the home side getting on the attack, spurred on by the 25,000 fans in the stadium, while Delhi Dynamos looked to play on the lead and hit on the counter. Delhi Dynamos also made a change at half time with the defence minded Henrique Dinis coming on for Skoubo to add cover.
FC Goa still managed to find inroads with the right winger Romeo Fernades impressing as he has two chances on goal, before Mandar Rao Desai failed to convert a chance as the ball came in from the right. FC Goa kept on pressing and despite some great chances, were still searching for parity.
In an attack minded change, Zico brought on Tolgay Ozbey upfront for Gregory with Amiri slotting back as a centre back and the Australian did add some spice to the play as he got behind the Delhi defence well.
The efforts finally paid dividends in the 73rd minute courtesy of Jewel Raja who headed in a headed ball from the right, adding belief in the home team to go on and score another.
In what was the last throw of the dice, Zico traded Mandar Rao Desai for Clifford Miranda, but despite feeble attempts from either side, the game seemed to be heading for a draw, before FC Goa caught Delhi on the counter as Slepicka lobbed on a brilliant through ball for Tolgay, who teased the keeper to send it into the back of the net, much to the cheer of the crowd as Goa won the game 2-1.