FC Goa was able to stretch their unbeaten streak to 15 games but bowed out of this season’s Hero Indian Super League tonight at the semi-finals stage for the second season running, going down 6-5 on penalties to Mumbai City FC. Heroics from Naveen Kumar, who made three saves in the penalties weren’t enough for the Gaurs with three of the penalties taken missing the target for Juan Ferrando’s men. 

Heading into the contest on Monday night, it was all to play for both FC Goa and Mumbai City FC after the first leg finished 2-2 and away goals not figuring in the scheme of things. And it remained level after 120 minutes of play as Amrinder Singh in the Mumbai goal came up with six big saves to help his side get into the shootout, which they eventually won. 

Juan Ferrando named three changes from Friday’s game as Alberto Noguera, Ivan Gonzalez and Redeem Tlang featuring in the starting XI. Igor Angulo started the game on the bench while Seriton Fernandes and Princeton Rebello missed out due to injuries.

The opening minutes of the game were open but neither side was really able to create any clear cut openings. That was till the 27th minute. 

It was then that Jorge Ortiz’s movement and pace helped him get the better of the Mumbai centre backs to help the Gaurs get into the final third. It all culminated in a shot for Alberto Noguera. The Spaniard, though, scuffed his effort but the save from Amrinder Singh fell to the onrushing Redeem Tlang. The man from Meghalaya looked on to score his second of the season. However, a last-ditch block from the outstretched Amey Ranawade saved Mumbai’s blushes. 

Seven minutes later Ortiz tested the keeper with an attempt from distance off a direct free kick. Thankfully for the Islanders, Amrinder had his angles covered. 

With Mumbai having no shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, Juan Ferrando’s plans seemed to be working.

Goa on top in the second half as well

Amrinder was again called into action within three minutes of the restart. Some brilliant interplay on the left from the Gaurs saw Saviour Gama go to the byline before cutting it back. Alexander Romario Jesuraj did great to guide his shot towards the far post but was unlucky as the keeper and post combined to keep the game on level terms. 

Saviour Gama nearly produced a carbon copy of his goal in the first leg in the 55th minute of this one. The left-back found space and trudged forward before unleashing a piledriver of a shot from 35 odd yards out which Amrinder did well to palm clear while diving to his left. 

The 62nd minute saw the Islanders create their first real chance of note as a low cross from the left found Adam Le Fondre in the box. The English man’s shot though was blocked at point-blank range by a sliding Adil Khan. 

Within seconds, at the other end, the Gaurs broke on the counter and forced Amrinder into another save as Ishan Pandita got at the end of a ball from Romario on the right. 

The last big chance to break the deadlock and win the game came in the 94th minute. A brilliantly curved free-kick from Edu Bedia nearly found James Donachie at the far post. The Australian did brilliantly to get the better of his marker but failed to get the telling touch.

Juan Ferrando’s men produced the only real goalmouth action of extra time as Amrinder was again called into action in the 104th minute to save Edu Bedia’s effort from a free-kick attempt on goal.

Drama in the penalties

It then took a total of 18 penalties to separate the two sides on the night. The normal shootout ended 2-2 as Angulo and Gonzalez scored for FC Goa. Bartholomew Ogbeche and Raynier Fernandes meanwhile found the back of the net for Mumbai City as Naveen Kumar thwarted efforts from Hernan Santana, Hugo Boumous and Ahmed Jahouh. 

Edu Bedia saw his effort saved by Phurba Lachenpa while Brandon Fernandes and James Donachie missed the target. 

The two teams scored their next three respective spot-kicks before Glan Martins missed. Mumbai’s telling kick was taken from the spot by Rowllin Borges. 

The Gaurs will next be in action in the AFC Champions League. They start their campaign on April 14 against Qatari side Al Rayyan.