FC Goa 3-0 Chennai City FC: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

FC Goa coasted past Chennai City FC in the first semi-final of the Hero Super Cup on Tuesday evening.

The Gaurs raced off the blocks and immediately put the Chennai side under pressure. They were rewarded for their endeavors in the 26th minute when Coro stepped up and coolly slotted his penalty down the middle.

Sergio Lobera’s men though didn’t allow Chennai an inch after the goal and doubled their tally in the 35th minute when Coro made the net bulge again.

After the half-time break, Goa was content to sit back and control the game. However, they were always a menace on the break and one such attack fetched them their 3rd goal.

A lofted pass found Brandon Fernandez in space on the left edge of the penalty area. The striker superbly escaped the attention of his marker before fizzing the ball into the far corner.

The 3-0 victory meant that Goa made their second consecutive final of the season and they now have the chance to put their ISL Final ghosts to rest come Sunday.

Here is a look at five talking points from the game:

#5. Goa’s attacking prowess blows Chennai away in the first half

Goa came into the game on the back of an entertaining 4-3 victory over Jamshedpur FC. On that day, the Gaurs’ attacking verve put their opponents to the sword as they raced to a 4-1 lead. And on Tuesday, their attacking prowess helped them tilt the scales in their favor again.

Goa started off swiftly and weaved pretty patterns all across the pitch. The likes of Jackichand Singh and Fernandez were bright from the outset and caused problems. The Goans’ strategy of switching play to the former in particular, was a constant source of danger for Chennai.

Though Goa were guilty of spurning a plethora of chances in the second period, they had effectively put the game to bed by then.

The first and second goal were scored within a span of ten minutes, which also comprised of long periods of attacking domination.

Moreover, the opening salvo caught Chennai off-guard with the Chennai side looking to grow into the game. However, the Gaurs’ incessant pressure proved a little too hot to handle for Chennai.

On another day, the Goans’ wastefulness could well have come back to haunt them. Yet, on Tuesday, they had completed the lion’s share of their work in the first half.

Throughout the season, Goa has made a name for itself with its offensive excellence a sight to behold. And against Chennai, those qualities definitely came to the fore.

#4. Coro shines again

Before the start of the 2017 season, Goa decided to sign Ferran Corominas (Coro). Since then, the Spaniard has set the Indian footballing stage on fire and he is showing no signs of rebating.

After scoring against Jamshedpur in the quarter-final, the Spaniard bagged a brace against Chennai City FC in the semi-final.

Throughout the game, Coro’s movement caused Chennai issues as he dropped deep, ran into channels and created space for himself. The above traits paid dividends when he pounced on a loose ball in the 35th minute,

The striker brilliantly side-stepped a defender and arrowed a pinpoint left-footed shot into the far corner. Moreover, he also opened the scoring when he displayed exemplary composure to pull off a ‘panenka’ penalty.

The 2018-19 season saw Goa become the most free-flowing attacking side in the Indian Super League and Coro’s intelligent offensive strengths had a major role to play.

And with the Indian season reaching its climax, the Spaniard is showing no signs of slowing down. Goa have a shot at redemption on Sunday and with Coro in such form, one wouldn’t want to bet against them going all the way.

#3. Saviour Gama puts in a scintillating display

In the recently concluded ISL final, FC Goa’s captain, Mandar limped off in tears mid-game after suffering an injury. His replacement that day, Saviour Gama gave a good account of himself yet couldn’t save his team from going down to Bengaluru FC.

However, with more games under his belt, Gama has ensured that the Gaurs haven’t missed their skipper.

Against Chennai City FC, Goa enjoyed possession for long periods of the game. They pushed and probed consistently and put the Chennai side under constant strife. Thus, the full-backs were also encouraged to join the attack and Gama, in particular, did so with aplomb.

On countless occasions, he overlapped on the left wing, formed passing triangles with Fernandez and Lenny Rodriguez and pushed into midfield to compress the pitch.

These attributes allowed Goa another attacking avenue with the Chennai defence not being able to find an answer to this question.

Moreover, the left back defended expertly whenever called upon and repelled anything and everything Chennai threw at Goa. In the process, he also earned a much-deserved clean sheet.

Over the course of the season, Goa’s attacking players have garnered plenty of plaudits and rightly so. Yet, in the semi-final of the Super Cup, it was a defender who earned the man of the match.

And those who watched Gama’s performance, wouldn’t really complain of the accolade he received.

#2. Goa completely overpower Chennai in midfield

Lenny (L) was the most impressive midfielder on display

Goa came into the game on the back of injuries and suspensions to a few of their crucial midfielders. While Ahmed Jahouh was suspended, Edu Bedia was ruled out with an injury. Thus, the Guars had to field a midfield trio of Lenny, Hugo Boumous and Zaid Krouch.

However, any fears that Goa had about their midfield were allayed pretty quickly as the triumvirate controlled the middle third from the outset.

Boumous was spectacular as he ran the show in the center of the park. The Frenchman received passes in tight corners but still got out of them courtesy some nifty footwork.

Additionally, he was the driving force from midfield and carried the ball forward as he looked to link up with his attackers. Though he was guilty of missing a few chances towards the end, his incredible display clearly offset that.

Yet, he wasn’t even the most impressive midfielder on display against Chennai. Lenny, playing as the pivot in front of the back four, enjoyed a marvelous game.

The lanky midfielder cut out several Chennai attacks with his excellent understanding of the game and was in the right place at the right time more often than not.

Moreover, his passing wasn’t too shabby as he kept Goa ticking through the entirety of the game and barely misplaced a pass.

Against Bengaluru FC in the quarter-final, Chennai’s midfielders had shown that they possessed the requisite quality to ruffle the feathers of ISL teams. Yet, on Tuesday, they were given a rather harsh lesson which magnified the gulf in class between them and FC Goa’s midfielders.

#1. Chennai City’s fairy tale comes to an end

Chennai City FC have been a part of a superlative 2018-19 campaign. The club won the I-League on the final day against all odds and hence, carved a niche for themselves in the Indian footballing circuit.

However, their performance in the Hero Super Cup was always perceived as the litmus test with them locking horns against some of the best teams India has to offer. They started off well too as they knocked out ISL champions Bengaluru FC in the quarter-final. Yet, when paired against FC Goa, they came up woefully short.

Though Chennai was completely out-played in the first half, they did recover a touch in the second half to keep Goa honest at the back. The attacking roots of Chennai City FC came to the plate on a few occasions as they searched for an equalizer.

Thus, suggesting that the side indeed has potential and one would be foolish to write them off in the years to come.

However, while the team may be one to watch out for tomorrow, their current journey was brought to a grinding halt by the all-conquering Goa side.

After all, not every potential fairy tale can become a long-lasting fable in football.