Football

FC Goa's impressive run in the Indian Super League continued on Wednesday as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Punjab FC. This triumph marked their second consecutive win, propelling them to the top three in the league standings.The match began with Punjab FC taking an early lead through Asmir Sujik's strike in the 13th minute. However, FC Goa responded swiftly, with Armando Sadiku equalizing just nine minutes later. The first half ended with both teams level at 1-1.In the second half, FC Goa stepped up their intensity and pace. Their efforts paid off in the 49th minute when Iker Garrotxena scored the winning goal with a clinical left-footed strike. Despite Punjab FC's persistent attempts to level the score, FC Goa's defense held firm, securing the victory.This win was a testament to FC Goa's growing confidence and momentum. After breaking Bengaluru FC's unbeaten streak 3-0 in their previous match, they have now established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the league.Iker Garrotxena was the standout performer for FC Goa, scoring one goal and assisting another. His contributions were crucial in securing the three points. Armando Sadiku also played a vital role, scoring the equalizer and providing a constant threat to the Punjab FC defense.Punjab FC, on the other hand, will be disappointed with the result. Despite taking an early lead, they were unable to maintain their advantage and ultimately succumbed to FC Goa's pressure.With this victory, FC Goa moved to third place in the standings with 12 points from eight matches. Punjab FC, meanwhile, suffered their second defeat in six matches.

Bengaluru FC's unbeaten run in the 2024-25 Indian Super League came to an abrupt end as FC Goa inflicted a resounding 3-0 defeat on the Blues at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday. Despite the setback, Bengaluru remains atop the standings with 16 points from seven matches, three points ahead of Mohun Bagan, which has played a game less.FC Goa, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief with its second win in seven contests. The victory was orchestrated by a trio of second-half strikes from Armando Sadiku, Brison Fernandes, and Dejan Drazic.Goa began the match as the aggressor, with Drazic's creativity on the wings causing problems for Bengaluru's defense. The hosts also threatened from set-pieces, but the Blues held firm to keep the tie goalless at the break.However, the pressure eventually told on Bengaluru, which was forced to reshuffle its defense after Aleksandar Jovanovic was unable to continue. In the 63rd minute, Sadiku's shot from Mohammad Yasir's low cross took a couple of deflections before trickling past goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu.Substitute Brison doubled Goa's advantage with a deft chip from outside the box after Gurpreet was robbed off the ball by Sadiku inside the Bengaluru penalty area. Drazic netted Goa's third in stoppage-time after latching onto Iker Guarrotxena's chip.The result marked Bengaluru's first defeat of the season and highlighted the depth and quality of FC Goa's squad. The Blues will look to bounce back in their next match, while Goa will aim to build on this momentum and climb up the standings.