Margao: FC Goa scored a thumping 5-1 victory against defending champions ATK at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. Sergio Juste, Ferran Corominas and Mark Sifneos scored a goal each along with Manuel Lanzarote’s double as the Gaurs emerged strong contenders for the Indian Super League playoff spots. Robbie Keane scored the lone goal for ATK.
Goa are now fourth with 27 points, ahead of Jamshedpur who have 26. The two teams face off on March 4 in what will be a decisive match. With Goa notching up the win, Kerala Blasters are out of the the contention for playoff. The JFC vs FC Goa match on Sunday will decide the forth spot. A win here will pave way for either of the team to qualify, however Goa could make it with a draw as well.
ATK had made a good start but Goa took the lead when Hugo Boumous’ corner was met by Juste’s header. That opened the floodgates and five minutes later, Soram Poirei’s save from Mandar Rao Dessai’s curling effort went into the path of Lanzarote, who scored with a neat finish.
Goa tripled their lead soon after. Pronoy Halder played a glorious diagonal ball to Lanzarote who brought it down expertly, zipped past Ashutosh Mehta and found the far corner with a sweet shot.
Corominas had a chance to score within minutes but the cross from Narayan Das was just over his leap. He eventually scored in the second half from a clever freekick to make it 4-0.
ATK had some chances to score scattered throughout the 90 minutes. First Sibongakonke Mbatha blazed over at the half-time mark and then Keane had two chances in quick succession in the second period. His first was a typically instinctive attempt to finish from a volley played at a tight angle and the second was a high flick which almost went in. When he finally scored, it was after dancing past two defenders to get a consolation from a deflection which went in off the post.
Sifneos capitalised on a poor header backwards from ATK centre-back Anwar Ali, and finished with full marks as he raced away one-on-one. Lanzarote, Boumous and Sifneos combined in the dying seconds, making a mockery of ATK’s defence, but added to the comedy when they couldn’t finish.