In a nail-biting clash that saw new signing Jay Gupta raise the roof of the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda with an injury-time winner, FC Goa beat Odisha FC 3-2 in the Indian Super League on Saturday.

Noah Sadaoui also scored a brace for the Gaurs, to open his goal-scoring account for the league season, Mourtada Fall, meanwhile netted twice at the other end.

FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez named an unchanged starting XI from the win against Punjab FC earlier this week, hoping for an early impact. However, it was Odisha FC that broke the deadlock in the 6th minute when Mourtada Fall capitalised on a corner-kick, volleying the ball into the top corner and taking the lead.

The Gaurs responded swiftly, displaying attacking prowess throughout the first half. Notable attempts included a long-range shot by captain Brandon Fernandes that narrowly missed the mark in the 20th minute and Carl McHugh’s header that struck the crossbar in the 36th minute.

The Kalinga Warriors, meanwhile, displayed a solid defensive performance, thwarting FC Goa’s efforts to equalize. The first half hence ended with the Men in Orange trailing by a goal but showing a lot of promise.

Jay turns the tide for the Gaurs after Fall’s late goal

Following the change of ends, FC Goa gained more control, showcasing their relentless spirit as they kept knocking on the visitors’ doors for the equalizer. It finally happened through Noah Sadaoui, who earned his team a crucial penalty in the 52nd minute.

Sadaoui himself stepped up, converting the spot-kick and then succeeding in the retake after an infringement, putting the hosts back in the game.

In the 68th minute, the Moroccan international showcased his prowess yet again, seizing on a defensive lapse and steering FC Goa into the lead with a clinical finish.

With Fall then scoring his second for the Juggernauts 13 minutes later, the game seemed to be heading towards a draw – only for Jay Gupta to make the day his with a moment of sheer individual brilliance during stoppage time.

The youngster received the ball just inside the opposition box and skipped past a defender with an audacious turn and roll, before unleashing a left-footed curler that nestled into the far corner of the net, far beyond the reach of a diving Odisha goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.

That proved to be the final action of the contest, with FC Goa taking home all three points for the second game in a row. Their next assignment in the league is against East Bengal FC, who they will face at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on October 21.