Jithin MS’ 76th minute strike cancels out Yasir’s 65th minute goal in 1-1 draw
Guwahati: FC Goa were held to a 1-1 draw by NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday in a thrilling ISL encounter. Despite dominating large spells of the game, the Gaurs had to settle for a point after the Highlanders found the equalizer late on.
FC Goa started the match cautiously, with NorthEast United pushing the Gaurs on the back foot early. However, the Goan side quickly regained control, with Brison Fernandes coming close to scoring with a stunning strike that rattled the crossbar.
The visitors began to find their rhythm in midfield, and as the game progressed, they created several good chances. Dejan Drazic’s well-delivered cross to Armando Sadiku was one of the notable moments, though Sadiku’s header couldn’t test the NEUFC goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Jay Gupta’s perfectly weighted long ball found Mohammad Yasir, who showed excellent composure to score after a neat one-two with Brison Fernandes. FC Goa’s high press and sharp passing were evident, with Yasir’s goal reflecting the team’s attacking
cohesion. Despite the Gaurs’ dominance, NEUFC equalized in the 76th minute through Jithin MS after a quick counter-attack. Though frustrated by the equalizer, FC Goa kept pressing forward, introducing fresh legs with Guarrotxena and Chhetri to add more attacking threat.
While the late stages saw both teams push for a winner, the draw was a fair reflection of a match that was evenly contested, though FC Goa can take heart from their attacking display and resilience throughout.
