A cohesive FC Goa unit took out Delhi Dynamos 2-0 in their opening Indian Super League (ISL) encounter in Margao on Sunday.
The home side, cheered on by a vociferous crowd at the Fatorda Stadium, displayed better teamwork to quash Delhi’s spirited challenge.
FC Goa could not have asked for a better start, with the side finding the net in just the third minute. The goal had a distinct local flavour, with Goan footballers Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Dessai combining to good effect.
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Romeo, an attacking menace on the wings, made a run and got past Delhi centre-back John Arne Riise with deft ball-control. With the path clear, Romeo crossed to Dessai, who took a shot from close range. An unfortunate deflection off Delhi defender Souvik Chakraborty gave Goa the lead. For Riise — once a ferocious presence at Liverpool — his first piece of action on India shores was a forgettable one.
Ten minutes later, FC Goa nearly got a second when Brazilian Leonardo da Silva Moura hit the post with his left-foot. Shaken by the early proceedings, Dynamos began to get their act together.
Marquee player Florent Malouda and Hans Mulder called all the shots from the midfield, consistently finding space to call their mates into action. Their effort almost paid off when Richard Gadze got through on goal, but he could not convert.
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Romeo revels
Romeo, meanwhile, continued to wreck havoc on the flank, forcing the defenders into a tight spot. At the stroke of half-time, a foul was committed just outside the Dynamos box, allowing Joffre Mateu Gonzalez to step up. A vicious left-footed strike flew towards goal from an acute angle, and an outstretched leg from Reinaldo Da Cruz Oliviera was enough to guide the ball onto target.
With his side down 2-0, Delhi manager-cum-player Roberto Carlos brought himself in after the restart. The decorated Brazilian surprised many by replacing the effective Mulder, and took on the role of a defensive midfielder. Carlos still retains the speed that once instilled fear in countless rivals, but the attacking chances did not come his way too often here.
Riise too turned back the clock with a electric foray, when he took the ball across the length of the field. A curler off his strong left-foot bounced off the post, and Goa escaped unscathed.
Just before full-time, the crowd witnessed a trademark Carlos moment. A spot-kick was conceded by FC Goa a few yards outside its box, and Carlos tickled the imagination by measuring his run-up. The man with the powerhouse left-foot struck with some fire, but the goalkeeper had little trouble in making the stop.
When the final whistle blew, the spectators left the venue thankful not only for a positive result, but also for a few moments which evoked a fair dose of nostalgia.
The result: FC Goa 2 (Souvik Chakraborty-OG 3, Reinaldo Da Cruz Oliviera 45) bt Delhi Dynamos 0.