Led by Borja Herrera’s sensational hat-trick, FC Goa secured their first win of their 2024-25 Indian Super League campaign by beating hosts East Bengal 3-2 in Kolkata on Friday. The visitors started the game brightly, making some impressive moves in the final third. The likes of Dejan Dražić, Borja Herrera and Boris Singh made openers early in the match. Their persistent attacks were soon rewarded when Dražić’s cross from the left was parried by East Bengal goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.
However, the errant ball found its way into Borja’s space and the Spaniard put it into the net in the 13th minute.
The Gaurs continued to trouble East Bengal FC’s back line with their incisive counter attacks. As such, Boris Singh won the ball from Hijazi Maher on the right flank in a dangerous area. The youngster made a perfectly weighted cutback to find Borja in the box, who struck again in the 20th minute to double the visitors’ lead.
However, the team coached by Carles Cuadrat responded well with some offensive moves.
They eventually found a breakthrough when Nim Dorja tripped Madih Talal in the box, giving the Red and Gold Brigade a spot-kick and an opportunity to get back into the game.
Talal stepped up and calmly slotted past Laxmikant Kathimani to pull a goal back in the 29th minute.
East Bengal FC started the second period positively with some breakthrough attacks. However, the real opening fell to FC Goa when Dragic and Rawlin Borges combined to open up the Red and Gold defence. But the latter’s eventual effort was wide of the mark. The Serbian took another shot from outside the penalty area, but again it went wide.
FC Goa regained their two-goal lead in the 71st minute when Udanta Singh won the ball from Hijazi and sent it to Borja in space. The Spanish midfielder powered his way into the box before blasting across the face of goal to complete his hat-trick.
The visitors were worried when Carl McHugh received a second yellow card in the 81st minute. East Bengal FC took full advantage of their numerical advantage when David Lalhlansanga pulled one back in the 85th minute after Kathimani parried Anwar Ali’s long-range shot straight into his path.
East Bengal continued to push for an equalizer in the closing minutes but FC Goa held on and walked away with maximum points.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published by a syndicated channel.)
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