October 15, 2014: Gregory Arnolin scores FC Goa’s first-ever goal

The first game and the first goal. 

The Gaurs’ first-ever game was against Chennaiyin FC at the Fatorda, a match that ended in a 2-1 loss for the home side. Trailing 2-0 in the second half, Goa’s marquee Robert Pires rolled back the years as he looked up and fizzed a cross towards the far post.

Youness Bengelloun then got a touch to the ball to deflect it onto the path of Gregory Arnolin. The Frenchman then got a faint touch to beat the goalkeeper and put Goa right back into the game.

A magical moment if any, the first of Goa’s 154 goals in the Indian Super League.

October 19, 2014: The Gaurs earn their first-ever point

The Gaurs’ second game in the first season saw them go up against NorthEast United at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati. 

Zico’s team, playing away versus Ricki Herbert’s Highlanders started brightly and took the lead in the 16th minute when Gregory Arnolin took advantage of a spill from TP Rehenesh in the NorthEast United goal to tap in his second of the campaign.

Koke would then equalise for the hosts from the penalty side as Goa had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Guwahati.

Goa would go on to earn 22 points that season and 125 in total over the course of 5 seasons, yet the first point that the Gaurs ever earned will always remain special.

November 1, 2014: Late salvo gives Goa first win

4 matches into the first season and Goa’s results looked thus: Loss, Draw, Loss, Loss.

It didn’t look rosy for Zico’s side as they welcomed the Delhi Dynamos to Fatorda. 7 minutes in and Mads Junker scored for the capital outfit to further compound the Gaurs’ woes. 

It seemed like another loss was on the cards when future captain Mandar Rao Dessai stepped up in the 73rd minute. His lofted ball to Romeo Fernandes was headed on by the winger to Jewel Raja, who drew Goa level.

Much to the home fans’ delight, Tolgay Ozbey slotted the winner home after Miroslav Slepicka sent an aerial ball to the Australian in injury time. The first of 38 Indian Super League wins for the Gaurs arrived in spectacular fashion, sending those present at the Fatorda into raptures.

December 5, 2014: Goa confirm their place in the semi-finals of ISL season 1

Still smarting from a 2-1 loss at the hands of Chennaiyin in their opening game, Zico’s Gaurs went to Tamil Nadu hoping to avenge the loss and qualify for the semis.

The visitors needn’t have worried as first Romeo Fernandes and then Andre Santos on the verge of half-time struck in succession to leave the home side 2-0 down with 45 minutes to go.

The points and qualification for the Gaurs were well and truly sealed on the hour mark as Slepicka bagged his fifth goal of the season to give FC Goa an unassailable 3-0 lead. Jean-Eudes Maurice’s strike in injury time proved to be a mere consolation for Marco Materazzi’s team as a clinical Gaur performance saw them confirm their place in the final four.