Super Cup: FC Goa qualify with game to spare

Margao: It was thought to be a complicated group but ended up being the most straightforward one. Two wins from as many matches were enough for defending champions FC Goa to top group B and qualify for the semifinals of the Super Cup.
With Jamshedpur FC snatching a late 2-2 draw against NorthEast United earlier in the day, all that Goa needed was a win to qualify. They home team did that in style, sweeping aside the challenge of Inter Kashi 3-0 at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday.
The clash between the I-League champions and Super Cup winners was lopsided at best. Kashi took the field with one foreign player, looked rusty and lacked fitness. Even though Manolo Marquez made five changes to his side, Goa still had plenty of firepower to overcome their opponents.
It was Dejan Drazic (‘4) who gave Goa an early advantage. Then, Borja Herrera struck twice in four minutes to put the match out of Inter Kashi’s reach before half time.
When the teams returned for the second half, there was hardly anything of note as Goa wrapped up the game and Inter Kashi offered little resistance.
Playing their third game in just seven days, changes were inevitable and Manolo opted to test his bench strength. There was a starting role for defender Ronney Wilson, a player the former India coach has tipped for great future. Harsh Patre was handed a start too, playing alongside Sahil Tavora in midfield, while Adul Rabeeh and Muhammed Nemil had a chance to impress.
Prachit Gaonkar, someone who has risen through the ranks at the club, made a second-half appearance and almost added his name to the scoresheet.
In the end, it were the foreigners who called the shots. Dejan, as always, was exciting to watch with the ball at his feet, and he provided Goa the lead for his second goal in as many matches.
It all started from Inter Kashi throw-in when the game was just three minutes old. The erratic throw-in was headed towards the danger zone where defender David Humanes – making his debut -- slipped, allowing Nemil to pounce on the chance and play it inside the box for Drazic, who calmly slotted it past goalkeeper Shubham Das.
Goa’s second was from another defensive lapse. This time Anil Chavan lost the ball in the middle to Drazic and his lob for Borja was finished by the Spaniard with a perfectly-timed low volley.
Goa’s third was carved out of nowhere by the experienced David Timor.
The Spanish midfielder – playing in defence for the last two games in the absence of Pol Moreno -- sent a long ball from inside his own half and Herrera showed brilliant anticipation to escape his marker and head home.
Inter Kashi struggled to keep pace with Goa and had nothing more than half chances. Early in the game, captain Sumeet Passi’s attempt sailed just wide, and from a quick counter late in the game, Ashish Jha could not keep his attempt on target.
Goa will now face the winners of group D in the semifinals to be played after India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh on Nov 18. Mumbai City lead the group with Kerala Blasters opening their campaign on Thursday.

ACTION TODAY

Rajasthan vs Kerala Blasters, Bambolim, 4.30pm
Bengaluru vs Mohammedan, Fatorda, 7.30pm