They go down 1-2 to Kerala Blasters in their final fixture
Panaji: FC Goa ended their Indian Super League 2026 campaign on a disappointing note after going down 1-2 against Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday, despite taking the lead and showing early control in the contest.
The Gaurs began on the front foot, dominating possession in the opening exchanges and creating early pressure, including a fifth-minute corner from Dejan Drazic that failed to produce a breakthrough. Goalkeeper Bob Jackson was called into action early, producing a full-stretch save to deny Kevin Yoke as Goa looked the more composed side in the first phase of play. Kerala Blasters, however, stayed disciplined, maintaining shape and restricting Goa’s rhythm in the final third.
Despite Goa’s territorial dominance, clear chances were limited, with Drazic also missing a key opportunity after breaking through on goal. The first half ended goalless, but Goa had controlled large spells without finding the finishing touch.
Kerala Blasters struck first early in the second half when Kevin Yoke unleashed a powerful effort from outside the penalty area to give the hosts the lead against the run of play. FC Goa responded positively and restored parity in the 63rd minute through Muhammed Nemil, who finished calmly inside the box after a well-worked move to bring the Gaurs back into contention.
However, the momentum shifted again in the closing stages as Kerala Blasters regained the lead through Fallou, who scored from a corner situation to put the home side ahead once more. Goa pushed forward in search of another equaliser, but were unable to break through in the final minutes.
Kevin Yoke, who had earlier scored for Kerala Blasters, was substituted in the 89th minute after an influential performance, while Goa’s late attempts failed to produce the desired result.
The result also reflected in the standings, with the Gaurs ending the season in seventh place with 20 points from 13 matches. Goa recorded five wins, five draws and three defeats, finishing behind Jamshedpur FC (21 points) and just ahead of Kerala Blasters, who moved to 17 points with this win. At the top of the table, East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan SG and Bengaluru FC led the standings with 23 points each, with the three sides in contention for the title. East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant had earlier cancelled each other out in a 1-1 derby draw, while Bengaluru FC remain in the race as the title battle heads into its final phase.
