ISL 2024-25: FC Goa Aims for Second Place Against East Bengal
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Synopsis
On Jan 18, FC Goa will take on East Bengal FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa for ISL 2024-25. With 27 points from 15 matches, FC Goa is currently third, while East Bengal struggles in 11th with 14 points.
Key Takeaways
- FC Goa is third in the league with 27 points.
- East Bengal FC sits at 11th place with 14 points.
- The Gaurs have a five-match winning streak against East Bengal.
- Armando Sadiku leads Goa with nine goals.
- East Bengal has the fewest goal-scoring opportunities in the league.
Margao, Jan 18 (NationPress) FC Goa is set to face East Bengal FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 this Sunday. Currently, the Gaurs hold the third position in the league standings, amassing 27 points from 15 matches, with three draws in their last five outings.
On the other hand, East Bengal FC sits at the 11th place, having secured 14 points from the same number of matches. In their last five games, they have registered two victories and one draw, but have faced back-to-back defeats leading into this match.
The Gaurs aim to extend their remarkable five-match winning streak against East Bengal FC. Following a 1-1 draw against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Jamshedpur FC has taken over the second position, prompting FC Goa to reclaim it to keep their aspirations of finishing at the top of the league alive.
East Bengal FC has struggled offensively, generating the fewest goal-scoring opportunities in the league with just 126 chances. In contrast, the Gaurs rank sixth with 152 chances created. This lack of offensive production is evident as only Hyderabad FC (11) and Mohammedan SC (8) have fewer goals than East Bengal FC’s tally of 16. Their top scorers, David Lalhlansanga, Dimitrios Diamantakos, and Vishnu Puthiya, have netted three goals each.
In comparison, Armando Sadiku leads the Gaurs with nine goals, followed by Brison Fernandes (5) and Borja Herrera (4). Their total of 29 goals is surpassed only by NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, each with 31 goals. FC Goa has unfortunately dropped 13 points from winning positions this season, an area East Bengal FC could exploit as they work to improve their meager three points earned from trailing positions.
The Gaurs have netted 12 goals in their last five encounters with East Bengal FC, conceding just six. They are also approaching a record of scoring in each of their last 15 games.
Armando Sadiku is on the verge of becoming the 11th player from FC Goa to score 10 goals in the ISL, which would also make him the eighth player in the club’s history to achieve ten or more goals in a single season.
While East Bengal FC has yet to score in the first 15 minutes of any match this season, they have shown their prowess in the second half, netting seven goals in the initial 15 minutes, the second-highest in this timeframe. FC Goa must reinforce their defense during this crucial period.
Hijazi Maher has been instrumental defensively for East Bengal FC, averaging 1.36 interceptions per game this season. His six interceptions against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their last match were tied for the second-most in a single game this season.
FC Goa's head coach Manolo Marquez acknowledged the challenging phase the season is currently in.
“Every game is very tough. We are in a moment where collecting points is very difficult. But, this is football. We need to be focused on ourselves,” he stated.
East Bengal FC's head coach Oscar Bruzon expressed optimism regarding the gradual improvement of his team, emphasizing the need to establish a solid foundation for future success.
“The team is slowly getting better. We need to find the foundation that allows us to have an idea of what East Bengal FC has always been and what we need to do moving forward,” he commented.
