Shillong, Aug 5: FC Goa edged past Rangdajied United FC in a 7-goal thriller to start their campaign in the 133rd Durand Cup, with a thrilling 4-3 win in a Group F encounter played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong on Monday.
Leander D’Cunha, Devendra Murgaokar, Lalthangliana, and Vellington scored for the gaurs while strikes from Pajuh, Pynbha and Apbor was not enough for the newly included team to earn a point from their opening game.
FC Goa fielded their second team as head Coach Israil Gurung named a young line up which has players from the reserves side as well as several experienced talents with players like Devendra Dhaku Murgaokar and Akash Oraow. Rangdajied United FC Head Coach Aibanjop Shadap started in a 4-3-3 formation.
With the heavy rain, the ground was a bit difficult. However, both teams were looking in their best form in the first ten minutes of the match. However, Rangdajied United took the lead in the nineteenth minute of the game. It was the wildcards that stun the Gaurs when a Goan defender slipped while trying to control the ball and RUFC’s Pajuh stepped up, got the ball and with a brilliant shot from inside the box opened the scoring.
Both teams were giving an equal fight to each other and RUFC were doing well to find the gaps with perfect passes to each other without being dispossessed inside the opposition box, which gave them all the advantage in the world.
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FCG created some dangerous chances but to no avail. RUFC’s Aenam was creating more problems in-fact for the Gaurs but they defended well.
In the beginning of the second half, Goa earned a penalty for a tackle by the RUFC goal keeper. Leander D’Cunha stepped up to take the shot which the keeper saved but Leander was too quick to shoot off the rebound and put it in the back of the net.
The Gaurs completed the comeback with a beautiful cross coming in from the right flank, reaching Devendra inside the box, who just put his foot on it and directed the ball into the net showing great finishing skills.
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The local side, however, got back into the game within two minutes when a throw-in landed at the feet of Pynbha, who shot a screamer that curved and ended at the right top corner of the net.
Goa again took the lead when another mistake from RUFC inside the box led to a handball and the referee pointing towards the spot yet again. Abawiha took the penalty. RUFC goal keeper dived in the right direction to stop the penalty but still failed to stop the ball from going in. However, RUFC made it all square again with Apbor putting a beautiful shot inside the net from an extremely tight angle.
Late drama continued as the Gaurs got the winning goal of the match. Likson tried to put the ball into the net from the right flank from an extremely tight angle but it hit the bar and Vellington was there at the right place at the right time to shoot the rebound into the net and produce a magical moment in the dying seconds of the game.
Mentionably, Rangdajied FC was the last entry into the Durand Cup’s Group F after ISL side Hyderabad FC pulled out from the tournament at the last minute.
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