Shillong, Aug 5: FC Goa edged past Rangdajied United FC in a 7-goal thriller to start their campaign in the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup, with a 4-3 win in a Group F encounter played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Leander D’Cunha, Devendra Murgaokar, Lalthangliana and Vellington scored for the gaurs while Pajuh, a world class goal from Pynbha and Apbor was not enough for the newly included team to earn a point from their opening game.
All 43 matches of the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup will be broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network (Sony Ten2 HD) as well as livestreamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform
FC Goa fielded their second team as head Coach Israil Gurung named a young line up which has players from the reserves side as well as several experienced talents with players like Devendra Dhaku Murgaokar and Akash Oraow. Rangdajied United FC Head Coach Aibanjop Shadap started in a 4-3-3 formation.
With the heavy rain, the ground was a bit difficult. However, both teams were looking in their best form in the first ten minutes of the match. However, Rangdajied United took the lead in the nineteenth minute of the game. It was the wildcards that stun the Gaurs when a Goan defender slipped while trying to control the ball and RUFC’s Pajuh stepped up, got the ball and with a brilliant shot from inside the box opened the scoring.
Both teams were giving an equal fight to each other and RUFC were doing well to find the gaps and perfect passes among themselves without being dispossessed inside the opposition box which gave allowed them to control the tempo of the game. FCG created their first dangerous chance with the ball ending up on the side netting and going for a corner for the Gaurs, they took it long but it could not reach any of their own players. RUFC’s Aenam was creating problems near the box but Gaurs were defending well with a large number.
In the beginning of the second half, the Gaurs earned a penalty after one of their wingers went down inside the box from a tackle from the RUFC goalkeeper. Leander D’Cunha stepped up to take the shot, the goalkeeper saved it but Leander was too quick to shoot the rebound to put it in the back of the net.
The Gaurs made a brilliant comeback with a beautiful cross coming in from the right flank, reached to Devendra inside the box who just put his foot on it and directed the ball towards the net in a great finishing touch. But two minutes later it was Rangdajied again who equalized and got themselves back in the gamel. With a throw-in coming to the feet of Pynbha who shot a screamer that curved and ended at the top corner of the net.
Goa again took the lead as a mistake from RUFC inside the box where the referee witnessed a handball and pointed towards the penalty spot. Lalthangliana took the penalty and deceived the diving RUFC goalkeeper to find the back of the net. However, RUFC made it all square again with Apbor putting a beautiful shot inside the net from an extremely tight angle.
Late drama continued with Gaurs with the winning goal of the match. Likson tried to put the ball into the net from the right flank from an extremely tight angle but it hit the bar, and Vellington was there at the right place at the right time to shoot the rebound ball inside the net to produce a magical moment at the very last moment of the match to take the three valuable points.
