Margao: FC Goa were left to pile more misery on themselves after Narayan Das mistakenly put the ball into his own net gifting Chennaiyin a 0-1 win at the Fatorda Stadium here on Wednesday.
Chennaiyin moved up to third with the win, now standing on 27 points from 15 games, while Goa after consecutive defeats and third loss in four matches remained sixth, with 20 points from a game less.
The home side’s defence has been shaky all season and against the ‘Marina Machans’ it was no different. Although manging to keep the score tied to nil-nil because of goalkeeepr Naveen Kumar’s brilliance between the sticks, it was eventually a defensive blunder that led to the goal.
The goal came in the 52nd minute and after defender Anwar Ali failed to clear a loose ball, which allowed Francis Fernandes to find Gregory Nelson on the right channel. His shot was somehow parried away by Kumar but only as far as the lurking Jeje Lalpekhlua, who strike on goal hit Narayan Das, before rolling past the goal-line.
But it was the ‘Gaurs’ who had started well. They could have scored as early as the seventh minute when Seriton Fernandes found Corominas unmarked on goal, but the latter failed to get in a touch on the ball. Brandon Fernandes them came close but hit the upright and it was all Goa could manage failing to beat Chennaiyin custodian Karanjit Singh.
New recruit Mark Sifneos was brought in, as Goa searched for an equaliser but finding a glorious opportunity to head the hosts back into the contest, Sifneos headed wide leaving Goa with a mountain to climb.
“The four games which remain are four finals for us. Especially after the points that we have accumulated in the past four games,” said coach Sergio Lobera — his boys have managed just one point in the last four matches, that came against NorthEast United.
“We have five points less than Jamshedpur with one game in hand and we have to play against them as well, but this is obviously the last opportunity. We cannot make any more mistakes,” added the Spaniard.