Indian Super Cup 2018: FC Goa vs ATK - 5 Talking Points

FC Goa secured a 3-1 win over ATK in Tuesday's Indian Super Cup 2018 Clash. Usual suspect Coro scored one and laid off another as Robbie Keane's equaliser went in vain. It was a hard-fought battle between two well-contested teams.

This win means Goa will now face Jamshedpur FC in the quarterfinals. Here are the major talking points from tonight's clash.

#1 Derrick Pereira's FC Goa very different than Sergio Lobera's

It's been less than a month since Derrick Pereira took over

The Gaurs played their last ISL game on March 13th against Chennaiyin FC which they ended up losing 0-3. It's been less than a month since Derrick Pereira took over the reigns but the changes are evident.

Under the tutelage of the Indian coach, Goa were far more pragmatic and less adventurous against ATK. Under Spaniard, Sergio Lobera, FC Goa always went all out in attack, rarely displaying stability at the back but bossing possession.

Nothing of that ultra-attacking approach was visible tonight. Goa were content in handing possession to ATK and were far more cautious when they ventured forward. In many ways, this team played a brand of football largely different from the approach they displayed merely 20 days back.

#2 What's with all those misplaced passes?

The number of ill-judged passes doing the rounds was shocking

In almost a carbon copy of yesterday's match between Minerva and Jamshedpur, FC Goa and ATK misplaced far too many passes. Mind you, these aren't local sides with amateur players.

Tonight FC Goa had in their ranks - Pronay Halder, Mandar Rao Dessai, Edu Bedia and Ferran Corominas. Yet for all their quality, the number of ill-judged passes doing the rounds was shocking, to say the least.

ATK, on the other hand, were equally sluggish. The likes of Robbie Keane and Zequinha entered promising areas on the pitch only to undo their good work with aimless balls across the ground.

This mediocrity resulted in ping-pong game where both sides were merely conceding possession to each other.

#3 Brandon and Mandar Rao shine for FC Goa

Mandar Rao Dessai and Brandon Fernandes took the game to ATK

For large parts of the ISL season, FC Goa banked upon their foreign recruits to do the job. But tonight the likes of Edu Bedia and Ferran Corominas struggled to impose themselves, especially in the first half.

The both of them did display their quality combining for the first goal which the later buried from close range.

Aside from that, it was the two wingers - Mandar Rao Desai and Brandon Fernandes who took the game to ATK. The both of them took turns to run riot on the wings and caused a host of problems for ATK's back four.

While they did manage to instil fear, their final pass was not as impressive and as a result, they let Robbie Keane and co. off the hook. At one end, Mandar used his pace and trickery, running at defenders consistently.

At the other, Brandon displayed his poise and intelligence to get the better of his markers. He even rattled the post in the second half but eventually found the net, scoring Goa's third goal.

#4 Robbie Keane displays quality once again

Robbie Keane's quality shined across the pitch

He may have started the game on the wrong foot but eventually, Robbie Keane's quality shined across the pitch.

Having gone down to a late goal in the first half, ATK came all guns blazing and secured the elusive equaliser instantly courtesy their coach, captain and striker - Robbie Keane.

Prior to that, the striker hardly had a sniff at goal. When he did receive the opportunity, he buried it with aplomb, a testament to his killer instincts, something that he still possesses, now aged 37.

Like a typical striker, he was there at the right place and the right time and laid down a marker for things to come.

#5 Coro rises from the dead as Goa slice through ATK's defence

Another deadly performance from the Spaniard

Both of FC Goa's goals today came from two exquisites through balls which completely sliced opened ATK's defence. Edu Badia released Coro with a sublime pass in the first half for their opening goal.

Coro then played supplier, laying off the ball to Hugo Boumous who found himself with acres of space to run into. The Moroccan kept his cool and slotted the ball past Goa's hapless keeper who found himself all alone once again.

Once again, ATK's defence disappeared as they had no answers to Goa's slick passing. What started off as an extremely slow night turned into a match-winning performance from Goa's sniper, Coro. Another deadly performance from the Spaniard.