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

#3. Saviour Gama puts in a scintillating display

Gama was awarded the man of the match

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.