ISL 2015: Roger Johnson goes from hero to villian
MARGAO: Table toppers FC Pune City rallied to draw FC Goa 1-1 and maintain their lead in the Indian Super League (ISL) football, at Margao on Friday.
FC Goa, who dominated the first half but failed to find the net on four occasions, took the lead in the 46th minute from through an own goal by defender Roger Johnson. But the visitors fought back and restored parity through Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s equaliser in the 64th minute.
The draw keeps FC Pune City at the top of the table after the end of the first leg with 13 points from seven matches. While FC Goa moved to third place with 11 points from as many games.
Hit hard by injuries, FC Goa put up a dominant performance and made inroads with a steady flow of passes.
Leonardo Moura and Jonatan Lucca controlled the midfield effectively and with Mandar Rao showing a lot of enterprise on the left, the home team made moves mostly from the left and the first opportunity to go in the lead came in the 10th minute when Moura beat the rival defence with a through pass.
Thongkoisep Haokip, along with Joaquim Abranches, beat the rival keeper Steven Simonsen with a low shot only to see defender Roger Johnson making a goal line save.
The Goan side kept on attacking and Luciano Sobrosa once again beat the rival defence with a long pass to Joaquim Abranches, but the latter failed to find the target.
Luck also did not favour the goan side as Mandar Rao’s left-footed drive hit the cross bar in the 22th minute. Thereafter, a one to one move between Moura and Romeo beat the Pune backline, but Romeo failed to make the best use of the opportunity.
The visitors, who had a great game against Kerala Blasters, were a subdued lot for most part of the first half, the only chance coming in the 40th minute when Nicholas Shorey’s flag kick was punched away to safety by home team keeper Elinton Andrade. The ball then went to Bikas Jairu and it was back heeled by striker Kalu Uche before the Goan defence cleared it.
But the Goans finally took the lead in the 46th minute. Romeo Fernandes, who received the ball on the right, sent a high cross into the box and rival defender Johnson, trying to clear it, in haste shot into his own goal. FC Pune City had chance to restore parity two minutes latter but Kalu Uche hit the post and the ball was then collected by keeper Andrade.
Sensing trouble, FC Pune City made double changes bringing in Wesley Verhoek and Jackichand Singh in place of Tuncay Sanli and Bikash Jairu. The move worked for the team as they showed promise on the right with Wesley Verhoek troubling the Goan defence with teasing crosses and in one such move, floated the ball to an unmarked Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who headed in the ball into the far corner of the.
