Silver lining for Indian football amid dark clouds as FC Goa qualify for ACL2

Margao: It was nervy, at times difficult to watch, and the six added minutes had everyone on the edge of their seats. But in the end, FC Goa survived, quite literally.
Given the uncertainty surrounding this season, there were dark clouds over the future of the club. Goa though ensured they have competitive football to look forward to, from Sept to May, as they put it across Al Seeb Club 2-1 to qualify for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two.
Goals from Man-of-the-Match Dejan Drazic (25th) and Javier Siverio (52nd) gave Goa a 2-0 advantage inside the first hour. But the Oman Professional League champions fought their way back with a goal from Nasser Sultan Alrawahi (60th).
The AFC Cup winners from 2022 were the dominant side from start to finish and came close to equalising on several occasions, only for the hosts to protect the lead like their lives depended on it.
Goa now join ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the second-tier Asian club competition. It will be the first time two Indian teams will be in the group stage of the 32-team tournament that offers over $16m in prize money with both Indian teams now being assured of $300,000 each.
Playing at home, Goa had some advantages. They knew the ground conditions here, weather suited them -- even if it was overcast all through -- and had fans to back them. But with Al Seeb enjoying a large share of the ball and constantly attacking, the home crowd had little to cheer in the opening minutes.
There was excitement when Drazic had the ball at his feet. The Serbian winger excelled on the left with his quick movement, and, true to form, gave Goa the lead at a time when nobody expected. It was the 25th minute and Al Seeb were distracted in the opposite half, appealing a handball. The referee saw nothing wrong, a decision that allowed Borja Herrera to do what he does best: play an instinctive long ball forward for his teammate, over the defence. Drazic brilliantly evaded goalkeeper Faraj Al Rawahi’s challenge before delicately chipping the ball over Ahmed Al Khamisi, and into the back of the net.
It was just the start that Goa wanted. Pushed on the back foot, without the ball, and with Al Seeb pressing at every opportunity, the hosts were forced to play a style they were not accustomed to. Against a quality opposition like the champions from Oman, it’s not exactly the best strategy and they almost paid a price closer to the end of the first session.
Al Seeb’s attempt to cross in the 43rd minute brushed Drazic’s hand, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Amid protests from Goa players, the decision was overturned, after the referee consulted his assistant. It was a lucky escape.
In the second half, the momentum saw Goa extend their lead when Borja’s cross off a short corner floated into the box perfectly for Siverio to rise above the goalkeeper for a poacher’s finish. Two goals ahead with half an hour left to be played was never going to be easy for Goa. Al Seeb attacked in numbers; Zahir Sulaiman Al Aghbari, Ali Sulaiman Al-Busaidi and Salaah Al Yahyaei were so methodical with their passing that hardly anyone noticed when they created the chance for Alrawahi to toe home.
For the next half an hour, Goa defended, with Sandesh Jhingan and Pol Moreno, at the heart of every action. There were chances to kill the game with Siverio and Brison Fernandes going close from inside the box. But in the end, that hardly mattered. Goa won, and made it to the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two, providing a rare moment of joy to a sport that’s riddled here with troubles like never before.