FC Goa defended their title in the Super Cup, edging past East Bengal 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Sunday evening after 90 minutes and then an additional 30 minutes ended goalless.
In their third Super Cup triumph, FC Goa were fortunate as East Bengal missed two key shoot-outs in the tie-breaker through Mohammed Rashid and PV Vishnu. Sahil Tavora struck the winner for Goa in the tie-breaker.
While speaking to the official broadcaster of the tournament, FC Goa’s two key footballers Sahil Tavora and Spanish captain Borja Herreira who won third Super Cup title, twice for FC Goa and the first one for East Bengal, revealed that playing against the stronger teams in the ACL-2 has helped to grow stronger, both psychologically and physically. “We knew how to handle the pressure of the final. East Bengal dished out a brave show also. They dominated us in the first session, while we fought back in the second half and also during the additional 30 minutes. But we did not give up,” said team captain Borja after the match.
Coach Manolo Marquez also emphasised his boys’ fighting spirit despite the embarrassing situation, currently going on in Indian football. “We have been training for the last five months, obviously for the preparation for ACL-2. But it was difficult for us to keep motivating the footballers, especially the team’s foreigners, amidst the ongoing stalemate in India’s domestic football. So, from that point of view, I am happy to have seen the boys’ mental strength and fighting spirit in the final,” stated Marquez.
