Football

FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC Clash in High-Stakes ISL Knockout BattleWith a direct qualification to the semifinals hanging in the balance, FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC are set to face off in a crucial knockout match of the Indian Super League (ISL) on Saturday.FC Goa enters the fixture in impressive form, having secured victories in four out of their last five matches. Their commanding performance against Chennaiyin FC in their recent encounter, where they emerged triumphant with a 4-1 scoreline, underscores their current form and confidence.In contrast, Chennaiyin FC, despite experiencing a setback in their previous fixture against FC Goa, have demonstrated resilience throughout the season. With wins in three of their last five matches, they are poised to bounce back and pose a formidable challenge to their opponents.FC Goa has a strong record against Chennaiyin FC, having won five of their last six matches against them and keeping a clean sheet in four of those victories. The Gaurs have found the back of the net in each of their previous 14 matches against the Marina Machans, and only against Kerala Blasters FC do they have a longer active scoring streak (19 games).FC Goa has now won four matches in a row, and their last longer run like this was a stretch of five matches from January-February 2020. Their 52 strikes against Chennaiyin FC are the most goals that a team has netted against any opposition in the ISL. They put up an absolute show in the last match, and one can expect similar fireworks, or at least intent to pull off the same in the forthcoming fixture as well.Prior to their defeat in the last game against the Gaurs, Chennaiyin FC had scored at least two goals or more in each of their three matches in the ISL.Chennaiyin FC has often brought their A-game to the table in the knockouts, having won six playoffs matches in the tournament, which is the joint-highest amongst all teams along with Bengaluru FC (6).

FC Goa emerged victorious in their Indian Super League encounter against Bengaluru FC, securing a 2-1 win that propelled them to third place in the standings. The Gaurs now boast 36 points from 19 games, while the Blues remain in the lower half of the table.Bengaluru FC drew first blood within two minutes of kickoff, with Suresh Singh Wangjam delivering a sharp through ball to Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh. Shivaldo received the ball with a deft touch and slotted it past Dheeraj Singh to give the Blues an early advantage.FC Goa gradually gained control of the game, with Noah Sadaoui testing the Bengaluru FC defense in the 18th minute. The equalizer came four minutes later, as Brandon Fernandes' corner found Boris Singh at the edge of the box. Singh's shot took a deflection off Odei Onaindia and landed in the back of the net, leaving Gurpreet Singh Sandhu helpless.The second half saw FC Goa gain a numerical advantage when Suresh was sent off for a challenge on Boris in the 47th minute. The Gaurs capitalized on their man advantage, dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities.Their efforts paid off in the 81st minute when Borja Herrera curled in a cross to Boris on the left side of Gurpreet. The former Jamshedpur FC winger made no mistake, netting the winner and securing the crucial three points for his team.FC Goa's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, while Bengaluru FC will be disappointed with their inability to hold on to their early lead. The result leaves the Blues with work to do if they want to climb the standings in the remaining games of the season.