FC Goa outplay Mohun Bagan SG 3-1 to reach Kalinga Super Cup final

FC Goa qualified for the summit clash of the Kalinga Super Cup with a commanding 3-1 win over Mohun Bagan SG on Wednesday. The Gaurs, champions in 2019, will face the winners of the clash between Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC in Saturday's final.

 

Goals from Brison Fernandes (20'), Iker Guarrotxena (51'), Borja and Herrera (58') sealed a comfortable victory for Manolo Marquez's side over Bastab Roy's young guns.

 

Goa constantly pressured Mohun Bagan's defence on the back foot, their high pressing and high-speed game leaving the Mariners' midfield constantly out of position and disjointed. Goa also brought unpredictability to their set-piece routines, and in the 20th minute, Fernandes capitalised on one to score the opener.

 

From an improvised corner routine, Herrera curled a perfect cross into the danger zone, for Brison to slightly glance into the far corner.

 

Goa's lead didn't last too long, and Mohun Bagan were level within two minutes.

 

Ashique Kuruniyan picked up a pass on the byline and, with a devastating turn of pace and skill, left the marking defender Boris Singh in his wake before unleashing a low fizzing cross into the six-yard area. Suhail Bhat merely had to tap it in to create a carbon copy of his quarter-final goal against Kerala Blasters.

 

However, in the 50th minute, while running to a long ball in the same channel, an unmarked Drazic was brought down by a reckless Dheeraj Singh challenge. The referee duly pointed to the spot, and Guarrotxena made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to score.

 

Dheeraj's evening got worse seven minutes later, when he was badly caught under a Herrera corner, which flew over him and straight into the net.

 

The Spaniard had threatened constantly with his curling corners and on this occasion found the perfect blend of curl and flight to outwit the goalkeeper.

 

The Mariners looked out of it, and yet they had a chance to reduce the deficit and create a fight when Salahudheen ran clear from a Nuno Reis long ball, controlled it, went around the goalkeeper, and found himself facing an open net.

 

He took a touch too many and pulled the trigger too late, allowing Goa's scrambling defence to issue a heroic block on the line.

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