Football
Govindan Kishwar 7y

Short-fused Goa finish rock bottom

Where they finished

Eighth, with 14 points. 

How the season panned out

Last year, FC Goa won seven of their 14 league games, scored a record 29 goals in the process, showcased their goal-scoring prowess when they smashed seven past Mumbai, and then showed character when they overturned a first-leg deficit against Delhi Dynamos in the semifinal. They may have lost last year's ill-tempered final to Chennaiyin FC, but Zico's men won plaudits by playing the kind of football no other team in the league did.

This season, however, could not have been more of a contrast. Goa had to wait for their fifth match of the season to get their first three points, a 1-0 away win against Mumbai City FC. They ended up winning just four matches all season.

Instead of building on that Mumbai win, Goa lost two on the trot against Kerala Blasters FC and Delhi, before registering a narrow 1-0 win away to FC Pune City.

Goa scored just five goals in their first eight games. The likes of Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai and Robin Singh all failed to live up to the billing, while in midfield, Jofre struggled to impose himself on matches. 

The win against Pune was followed by their second loss against Kerala, but Goa were given a lifeline in their next game when they managed a late 2-1 win at home against NorthEast United FC. That win should have been the one to turn their failing season around. Hit by suspensions and injuries, Goa had just four substitutes on the bench and nine Indians were part of the starting XI - an ISL record - for the next game.

There was no turn in fortunes, however, and they drew 0-0 against Mumbai, lost 2-1 to Atletico de Kolkata at home, and were thrashed 5-1 by Delhi. They did win their last match, a thrilling 5-4 victory against Chennaiyin, but by then their fate was already sealed. 

Best player

Rafael Coelho was expected to form a lethal partnership with Robin Singh in attack for Goa to not only help them reach the ISL semis for a third consecutive year, but perhaps even improve upon last year's runner-up finish. Despite his team's struggles, Coelho managed five goals for Goa and even dropped deep to create scoring chances. Unfortunately for Coelho, his teammates did not match up to his level.

Most disappointing player

Robin Singh managed just one goal and one assist in 10 appearances for Goa, and the Indian at times even appeared disconnected from those around him on the pitch. Singh failed to complement Coehlo in attack, and everything from his runs into the box to his passing, was simply not up to scratch.

Most memorable match

It may have been a dead rubber, but Goa and Chennaiyin played out an absolute thriller in what was the final game of the season for both teams, with Goa winning 5-4. Jerry Lalrinzuala gave Chennai an early lead in the fourth minute, but Goa responded two minutes later with Rafael Coelho equalising in the sixth. A Gregory Arnolin own goal in the 13th minute made it 2-1 in Chennaiyin's favour, but Goa responded with midfielder Goncalves making it 2-2 from the spot in the 21st.

Dudu scored seven minutes later and Chennai went into the break 3-2 up, but Sahil Tavora (69') and another goal rom Coelho (76') turned the game around with Goa leading 4-3. John Arne Riise scored in the 88th from the penalty spot to make it 4-4, but just when it looked like eight goals were enough, Tavora got his second of the game to snatch a win in injury time.

Marks

3/10. For a team that strolled their way to the final last year, there is no excuse for how they performed in 2016. It didn't help that Goa continued with their disciplinary problems, especially the game against Kerala, when the team finished with nine players. It was a poor reflection on coach Zico, who should have controlled his troops better. A combination of failing to take their chances in attack, lack of grit in midfield, and a leaky defence meant Goa finished rock bottom. 

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