Highlights | FC Goa Beat Chennai City FC 3-0, Enter Hero Super Cup Final

Good Evening readers. If you have been even remotely following Indian football over the past few days, you will know a couple of things have happened. Some bad. Some good. And some plain funny. Such is life. Today though has been heartening.

In case you missed it, our Women team went up against Myanmar in a must win game in the Second Round Olympic Qualifier today and were held to a 3-3 draw. That knocks us out of contention for Round 3 because of goal difference. Sigh. But hold on, this is heartening.

Heartening because the average age of the team that took to the field today was 21. They scored three goals and battered down the Myanmar goal in the final minutes looking for a winner, before eventually settling for a point. They got within one goal of going better than any Indian football team has in Olympics qualifier history. And they did all this despite the apathy shown towards the women game in the country today.

Chennai vs Goa may be a battle for league supremacy, but consider this: the women’s game doesn’t even have a sustaining league structure in the country. There are no dedicated clubs for women, no pay, and no clear cut vision for the game either. Women football in India is the definition of ad-hoc.

But hopefully, things for the women’s game are on the up. The team has already played more games this year, than they did in the last three combined. India are scheduled to host the 2020 U17 World Cup, and if the AIFF’s track record offers anything it is that they pull their socks up only when they have a date. So, they have a date. It is socks time.

Mauro Boerchio (GK), Edwin Vanspaul, Tarif Akhand, Gaurav Bora, Ajithkumar, Alexander Jesuraj, Charles Anandraj, Sriram, Nestor Gordillo, Sandro, Pedro Manzi

Just the single change from their win over Bengaluru, Michael Regin’s suspension means he misses out.

Mohammad Nawaz, Seriton Fernandes, Mourtada Fall, Carlos Pena, Saviour Gama, Lenny Rodrigues, Hugo Boumous,  Jackichand Singh, Zaid Krouch, Brandon Fernandes, Ferran Corominas.

Goa’s in form striker Edu Bedia misses the game after picking up a suspension in their game against Jamshedpur FC.

“Was really great to see India’s senior women in action earlier today. It’s a great start for them. Over the past few months the squad has had regular time together and has been involved in a pretty busy schedule of matches outside the country. The improvement is immediate and tangible. Women’s football can be a more potent force than the men when it comes to the national team. But the time to built a competitive ecosystem is now. Anyway, hope Chennai City FC draw further inspiration for the afternoon and give us another big night. Can’t wait.”

1’ Kick off. The referee for today’s game is MB Santosh Kumar who -- as has been extensively chronicled -- is an auto driver when he isn’t refereeing games.

In case you’re wondering the temperature in Bhubaneshwar tonight is 29 degrees celsius. Under the light in the middle that’s an easy 35. With 84% humidity. This is going to be a long 90 minutes (or so)

3’ Goa catch Chennai City out with a cross field ball. Jackichand is in the box, and gets a shot away. A shot, a cross? A bit muddled. Mauro gathers.

4’ Chennai City haven’t got going yet. Also, this empty stadium rankles. You can literally hear the players calling each other.

7’ Coro  takes nudge from Tarif on the edge of the box, but Santosh isn’t easily fooled. FC Goa with all the possession and the control overt this game.

10’ No better name than Saviour Gama in today’s lineups. Can’t wait for his last ditch, off the line clearance in the 90th minutes.

We have spoken a little about this all Indian back line that CCFC field. I think after the Bengaluru game there will be no real tactical surprises for Goa tonight. It will be a long, hard evening for Gaurav Bora, Ajithkumar and the other boys. It’s like FC Goa technical director Derrick Perreira told Arjun Pandit in our soon-to-be-aired interview- the Goans only play one way. Attack, attack, attack.

11’ Chennai haven’t got going and so they are making sure that Goa don’t go either, putting enough fouls in to throw the ISL boys off.

11’ Coro threads a brilliant ball through to Seriton on the right. Seriton shoots towards the far corner, but Mauro’s fingertips keep it out. Corner to Goa.

12’ Chennai are surviving through a tricky period. Is that the plan?

13’ Ajith clears badly,  and the ball falls to Zaid Krouch who catches it 20 yards out and lets fly. Mauro’s fingertips again. Goa have already had a few shots at the Chennai goal.

15’ For now, all Chennai are doing is the long ball in the hope of finding Pedro Manzi. But Goa are prepared for that and seem to have a man on him at all times.