As it happened, AFC Champions League 2021, FC Goa vs Al Rayyan: FC Goa hold Al Rayyan to goalless draw
India returned to Asia’s elite club football competition with FC Goa kicking off their AFC Champions League campaign with a draw against Al Rayyan. Catch the highlights here.
12:25 PM IST - First points for FC Goa
What a fantastic result for FC Goa this.
They were the underdogs coming into the competition but that didn't bother this team as FC Goa has produced a fine defensive show to hold Qatar's Al Rayyan to a goalless draw in their opening AFC Champions League match.
It was a team effort through and through with everyone playing their part to perfection. While James Donachie and Iván González held fort at the back, captain Edu Bedia was on the money with his tackles, stopping wave after wave of Al Rayyan attack.
Jorge Ortiz, Brandon Fernandes and Ishan Pandita tried their best to engage the Al Rayyan backline while Glan Martins came up with a performance of his lifetime.
That's the first point for Goa in the Champions League and the competition will only get tougher from here on. But my word, aren't the boys ready for a fight!
Full time at the Fatorda, it's FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan!
Good night and stay safe
90+' - Substitution for FC Goa
In - Amarjit Singh
Out - Brandon Fernandes
90' - Soja Khalilzadeh finds the side netting
Final minute of the regulation time and Mohamed Alaaeldin comes up with another juicy cross from the right. It takes everyone by surprise, even Yohan Boli. But Soja Khalilzadeh is at the far post, but his header can only find the outside of the Dheeraj Singh's goal.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
82' - Al Rayyan come all guns blazing
The Qatari club look desperate for a goal and it's their skipper Yacine Brahimi who's taken things into his own hands.
The Frenchman collects a crossfield ball on the far end, runs inside the box, turns around to skip past three markers, but can't find a way into the Goan goal. James Donachie is there, yet again!
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
77' - Substitution for FC Goa
In - Saviour Gama
Out - Romario
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
77' - Penalty shout in the Al Rayyan box
Glan Martins has done ever so well to whip in a delightful ball for FC Goa's lone striker, Ishan Pandita.
Though the Indian misses the ball, it looks to have hit Mohamed Alaaeldin's arms. The referee, Muhammad Nasaruddin, however, is not convinced.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
70' - Yohan Boli comes close
Al Rayyan do well to find Yohan Boli with a delightful ball from the top. The French international is, however, let down by his first touch which allows James Donachie to rush in and avert the danger.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
68' - Substitution for Al Rayyan
In - Mowafak Awad
Out - Ibrahim Abdelhalim
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
55' - Al Rayyan come close
The best passage of play from the Qataris.
Al Rayyan work the ball with patience waiting for their opportunity as Franck Kom does well to thread in a pass out wide for Mohamed Alaaeldin.
The full-back take no time to pick Yohan Boli inside the Goan's box with his cross. But the French international is slow to react as the defence clears the threat.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
51' - Al Rayyan cut a sorry figure
The Qataris have continued to struggle as the game has panned out.
FC Goa are happy to sit back and absorb all the pressure. James Donachie and Ivan Gonzalez have marshalled the backline well while Jorge Ortiz is slowly looking towards testing the Al Rayyan backline with his array of passes.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
46' - We're back underway with FC Goa kick-starting the proceedings
11:18 PM IST - Nothing to separate FC Goa, Al Rayyan at half-time
What a fine performance from FC Goa. The hosts have held their ground, not awed by the occasion or the opponents.
But in needs to be said, Al Rayyan have been wasteful on their part. Laurent Blanc will be hoping a much better show from the likes of Yacine Brahimi, Abdelaziz Hatim, Ibrahim Masoud, Yohan Boli.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
43' - Abdelaziz Hatim from the distance!
No way into the penalty area Al Rayyan are felt to try their luck from the distance. Abdelaziz Hatim is their man, but the 30-year-old's shots from outside the area have barely troubled Dheeraj Singh in the Goan goal.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
40' - FC Goa acing their plan, so far...
Juan Ferrando should be a happy man seeing the way his team has played so far. FC Goa has stuck to their plan, staying deep, defending in numbers and hitting out on counter.
Only if the Goan attackers can improve their first touch and control. Need better from Pandita and Co. in the attacking half.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
30' - FC Goa match stride for stride
Some disciplined defending from FC Goa in this opening 30 minutes of the tie. Every run by an Al Rayyan attacker is tracked, the backline has stayed compact, running into cover every time the danger has loomed.
The Qataris will need something better to beat this Goan side.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
20' - Seriton from the distance...
The midfield looks very crowded with both the teams struggling to find a way into the attaching third.
Meanwhile, Seriton Fernandes has had a go from the distance. But his shot was easily blocked by the experienced Shoja Khalilzadeh for a FC Goa throw.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
15' - Long night for FC Goa?
Al Rayyan have grown into the tie, taking control of the proceedings with ease. Brahimi, Abel Aziz and Alhadhrami are calling the shots without much trouble.
FC Goa could be in for a long night of defending at the Fatorda.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
10' - Chances galore for Al Rayyan
The Qatari are all over the hosts in this opening phase.
Brahimi turns provider this time, but the Goan goalkeeper Deeraj Singh does ever so well to close in on the angle to thwart Naif Alhadhrami.
Soon after, it's Yohan Boli who finds the side netting with his shot from inside the penalty area.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
7' - Brahimi comes close!
A mistake from Jorge Ortiz and the Qatari star, Yacine Brahimi, is on to it in a flash. But he drags it wide with a shot from distance.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
5' - Fine passage of play from FC Goa
Five minutes in and FC Goa have done well to match their superior opponents with some controlled football. They are clam on the ball, moving it around at pace.
FC Goa 0-0 Al Rayyan
1' - Kick-off
10:24 PM IST - High on ambitions are Al Rayyan
Head coach of the Qatari outfit Laurent Blanc has informed of the team's ambitions in the AFC Champions League. But for now, the focus is on FC Goa.
I want my team to play their best in this competition. This season is going to be very tough considering the rest days between the matches. We all have our targets and ambition but our focus is on Goa FC and they are not an easy team to beat.”
Kick-off is next!
10:18 PM IST - Won't be an easy task for FC Goa
The FC Goa head coach Juan Ferrando has urged his boys to stay on top of their physical and mental game throughout the 90 minutes.
It will be an intense match against Al Rayyan and the physical conditions are as important as the psychology and mentality of the players. The most important thing is to maintain that level of concentration for every game."
10:12 PM IST - No holding back from FC Goa
The Goan head coach Juan Ferrando has named a strong line-up for his AFC Champions League debute.
While the four foreigners start, Ishan Pandita is set to walk out of the tunnel for the first time in an FC Goa shirt.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan have both Yohan Boli and Yacine Brahimi leading the line.
Line-ups:
FC Goa: Dheeraj Singh (GK), Seriton Fernandes, Ivan Gonzalez, James Donachie, Sanson Pereira, Glan Martins, Edu Bedia (C), Alexander Romario, Brandon Fernandes, Jorge Ortiz, Ishan Pandita
Coach: Juan Ferrando
Al Rayyan SC: Fahad Younis (GK), Mohamed Alaaeldin, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Franck Kom, Dame Traore, Khaled Muftah, Yacine Brahimi (C), Abdel Aziz Hatim, Ibrahim Masoud, Naif Alhadhrami, Yohan Boli
Coach: Laurent Blanc
10:00 PM IST - Day of reckoning for Indian football and FC Goa
Hello and welcome to the Olympic Channel’s live coverage of the AFC Champions League 2021 where India’s FC Goa begin their campaign in Group E against Al Rayyan of Qatar.
It’s nothing short of a historic day for Indian football as they return to Asia’s elite club competition after a hiatus of about three decades.
While the Mysore State team reached the semi-final of the 1969 Asian Champion Club Tournament, East Bengal made it to the group stages of the 1985–86 Asian Club Championship.
Meanwhile, East Bengal’s fiercest rivals, Mohun Bagan too have had a taste of continental football with group stage appearances in the 1988-89 and the 1994-95 seasons.
The group stage matches of the 2021 edition of the AFC Champions League will be played in centralised venues across the continent given the travel restrictions in place in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Group E comprises Iran’s Persepolis FC, Al Rayyan of Qatar and UAE’s Al Wahada, apart from India’s FC Goa. The matches will be played in Goa with kick-offs at 8:00 PM IST and 10:30 PM IST.
Earlier today, Persepolis began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Al Wahda.
The 2021 edition of the ACL is an expanded competition with 40 teams, unlike the 32 last season, competing for the top honours.
Divided into 10 groups (five each in the west and the east zone) of four teams, the table group winners along with the six best second-placed teams will make it to the Round of 16.
Sit back and enjoy the ride! Line-ups are next...