Football
ISL 2019-20: FC Goa becomes first Indian club to reach AFC Champions League
FC Goa beat Jamshedpur FC 5-0 at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Wednesday to secure themselves the top spot in the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2019-20 table and a slot in the AFC Champions League 2021 group stage, becoming the first Indian club to participate in Asia’s premier club competition. The result also means Goa win the first-ever League Winners Shield, presented to the Hero ISL table toppers starting this season.
After a scrappy start to the match, it was FC Goa who drew first blood in the 11th minute. The move initiated from a Jamshedpur corner after Mobashir Rahman miscued his volley at the edge of the Goa box. The ball fell to Hugo Boumous, who broke with speed before playing in Ferran Corominas on goal. The Hero ISL’s all-time leading goal scorer didn’t need a second invitation as he slotted past Rafique Ali to score his 14th goal of the season and gave the Gaurs a 1-0 lead.
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Jamshedpur tried hard to draw level and created a couple of half chances. Farukh Choudhary almost beat Mohammad Nawaz in the 22nd minute after outjumping the Goa custodian and heading the ball past him towards goal. The effort, however, lacked power and was cleared by Mandar Rao Dessai before it could roll into the goal. David Grande squandered a golden opportunity after Sumeet Passi found him with the brilliant cross from the left. The Spaniard misjudged his header and couldn’t get the connection he needed.
Photo Credits: Indian Super League
Seconds before the half time whistle, Nawaz was forced into making a good save by Noe Acosta, who cut in from the left and managed to unleash a dangerous looking shot at the Goa goal. Goa went into the break leading 1-0.
The initial phases of the second half saw a pattern emerge as Jamshedpur showed more adventure, while the Gaurs tried to ensure they were solid at the back and look for counter-attacking opportunities. Seiminlen Doungel found himself in space in the Jamshedpur box in around the 54th minute, but ended up skying his effort much to the relief of home fans. Just after the hour mark, there was another big let off for Jamshedpur as Boumous beat Rafique with a low shot from distance but was denied by the woodwork.
Boumous, however, found his goal in the 70th minute as he put the finishing touches to Doungel’s cut back. Fourteen minutes later, Boumous set up the third for Jackichand Singh, with a lovely through pass and the winger complied with a chip over Rafique. Three minutes later, Mourtada Fall made it 4-0 after heading home an Edu Bedia cross.
In the final seconds of regulation time, Boumous scored Goa’s 5th with a finish from a tight angle after a marauding run down the byline. The goal confirmed the 5-0 victory and also made Goa the first team in Hero ISL history to register 50 wins in the competition.
Boumous had a direct hand in four of Goa’s five goals on the night, scoring two and assisting two more. The Frenchman was unplayable on the night and rightfully clinched the Hero of the Match award. He also became the first player in Hero ISL history to score more than 10 goals and provide 10 assists in a single season