The spotlight was on the Gaurs after they sacked Sergio Lobera
in the build up to the game. But Derrick Pereira's charges started right where
they left off. The win makes FC Goa the first team this season to confirm
qualification for the playoffs.
Corominas was
set up with a golden chance to break the deadlock eight minutes into the first
half as FC Goa started on the front foot. Boumous released Jackichand Singh
down the right flank and the winger's cross to the centre was hit straight at
Hyderabad goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani by Corominas from point blank range.
With no
support available, Marcelinho tried to create something for Hyderabad when he
picked up the ball near the half-way line before dribbling into the box past
the Goa defence. The Brazilian forward was on his own inside the box and could
only find the side-netting.
A minute
later, Goa converted their dominance into an opening goal. After Brandon
Fernandes' corner-kick was cleared by Mathew Kilgallon, the ball fell to Mandar
Rao Dessai who attempted a long-range effort from outside the box. The
left-back scuffed his shot but Boumous slammed home the loose ball from inside
the box.
Marcelinho
came close to scoring again at the other end but missed out on an immediate
equaliser. A minute after conceding, a Stankovic corner was side-footed onto
the post by the Brazilian.
Boumous' fine
form in front of goal continued as the Frenchman scored his eighth goal of the
season just five minutes after the restart. He picked up the ball on the left
flank, dribbled into the box unopposed and curled a shot into the corner of the
net.
Marcelinho,
who looked to be the only likely scorer for the visitors, executed a free-kick
strike to perfection after the hour-mark. Ahmed Jahouh's tackle on the
Brazilian outside the box was punished with a fantastic effort into the net
through the gap in the Goa wall.
Goa were
unfazed by the goal against the run of play and regained their two-goal cushion
within minutes. Hugo Boumous played an excellent, defence-splitting through
ball into the path of Corominas who timed his run in behind the defence to
perfection and caressed the ball past Kattimani into the net.
The hosts put
the game to bed after Kattimani fouled Corominas from behind and conceded a
late penalty. The Spaniard slotted home from 12 yards to send the visitors
packing.
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