As it happened, Al Wahda vs FC Goa in AFC Champions League 2021: Dheeraj Singh heroics earn Gaurs a point
FC Goa held Al Wahda to another goalless stalemate in the AFC Champions League. Highlights from Al Wahda vs FC Goa ACL match.
10:05 PM IST - FC Goa remain undefeated in ACL
Another stunning result for FC Goa!
Juan Ferrando's men exhibited the same grit and disciplined defence which earned them a draw against Al Rayyan and goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh put on a big, big, performance tonight.
The 20-year-old's maturity and decision making in goal, and that too while going up against some big names in Asian football like Isamaeil Matar and Omar Khribin, was exemplary. If the youngster keeps on his performance levels on a stage like the AFC Champions League, it may be just a matter of time before he starts giving Gurpreet Singh Sandhu a run for his no. 1 spot in the Indian national team.
FC Goa also put up a far better offensive display than they did against Al Rayyan and arguably had the best chance of the match, with Brandon Fernandes hitting the bar. Devendra Murgaokar also impressed in the 30 minutes he had on the pitch and was involved with almost everything good FC Goa created going forward.
With two draws from two matches, FC Goa move up to second on the Group E points table behind Persepolis, at least temporarily.
Perespolis and Al Rayyan play each other later today.
That's all from Fatorda from tonight. Stay safe and tune in for our live coverage of Persepolis vs FC Goa in three days time.
94' - Well-earned draw for FC Goa
Couple of half-chances for Al Wahda in the closing seconds of extra time but the FC Goa defence stays strong to seeoff the game. It ends goalless at Fatorda.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
93' - Dheeraj heroics again
Khalil dispossessed Gama in the left flank again and sent in a teasing ball at the far post. Omar got his header in but Dheeraj takes up an instinctive position to deny the 2017 Asian Player of the Year winner.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
89' - Big save from Dheeraj and Seriton follows up
A snap shot from Omar forces another big save from Dheeraj. The ball however fell on Lee's path but Seriton extends a leg to block the midfielder's shot and help is goalkeeper out.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
85' - Late hero to step up?
Into the final five minutes of regulation time and both teams looking for a hero to stand up. While FC Goa spent the better part of the first hour defending, the ISL side has shown a lot more adventure in the last twenty minutes or so. Can they catch Al Wahda out on the break?
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
83' - Adil Khan on
Adil Khan comes on for Sanson Pereira and there's a little change in Goa's formation. Saviour Gama tucks in as the left back while Adil takes up more of a defensive midfielder's role.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
79' - Chance for Goa
Another chance for the hosts and it's Devendra's willingness to take on his man that created the opportunity again. The youngster popped up on the right hand side and sent in a dangerous cross in the box. An Al Wahda defender just about kept it from reaching a FC Goa player.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
77' - Dheeraj keeps out Matar
A big save from Dheeraj again. Omar is brought down 35 yards out, prompting the referee to whistle for a free-kick. Al Wahda captain Ismaeil Matar gets his effort on target but Dheeraj is up to the task.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
72' - Chance for Devendra
Devendra at the thick of things yet again. The second half substitute met Brandon's low cross from the right with an outstretched foot. The ball seemed to be heading in but Al Wahda goalkeeper Mohamed Al Shamsi's extended arm diverted its course at the last second. A brilliant save there.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
69' - Devendra Murgaokar catching the eye
Devendra has been lively since coming on. His direct running caused the Al Wahda defence all sorts of problems yet gain as the youngster carried the ball into the opposition box. He stayed strong under pressure to keep possession but couldn't find Ortiz with the final ball.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
65' - Juan Ferrando makes another change
FC Goa have brought on Saviour Gama in place of Jesuraj. Probably a safeguard against the latter's yellow card.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
63' - Goal-saving tackle from Seriton Fernandes
Another big intervention from the FC Goa defence. The visitors had men forward during a break and Omar almost played Matavz in on goal. Before the Slovenian could take on Dheeraj though, Seriton steps in with a timely challenge to snuff out the danger.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
61' - The game heating up
The tempo of the match has suddenly increased and with it, players are lunging into tackles more.
There has been three bookings in the course of the last five minutes. Goa's Gonzalez and Jesuraj has gone into the referee's book while Al Wahda's Abdulla Al Karbi has been shown the yellow card.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
58' - Al Wahda turning on the pressure
FC Goa's chance seems to have woken up the visitors. Al Wahda have increased their pressure on the FC Goa goal.
Ivan Gonzalez had to make a last-gasp challenge to thwart Matar while Omar headed straight to Dheeraj from a Khalil cross. A flurry of chances for the visitors within a matter of minutes.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
54' - Brandon hits the bar
Murgaokar in the thick of things straight away. The youngster used his pace to get hold of the ball and cuts it back for Ortiz. The Spaniard's low cross for a teammate is cut off by the Al Wahda defence but it falls for an onrushing Brandon Fernandes at the edge of the box.
Brandon Fernandes' shot had Al Wahda goalkeeper rooted but the effort comes off the post. Close!
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
53' - First change for FC Goa
FC Goa makes the first change. Devendra Murgaokar comes in for Ishan Pandita.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
48' - Picking up from where we left off
The game is following a similar trend to how it ended in the first half. Al Wahda is enjoying more of the dangerous possession but the Gaurs have been diligent while defending.
Goa's few openings so far have been created by long balls towards Ortiz or Pandita but with little support from the rest of the team, the two have been crowded out of possession.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
9:07 PM IST - Play resumes
The teams are back out and the match has resumed after the break. No changes by either coach at half-time.
Can FC Goa find a way? Stay tuned to find out.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
8:52 PM IST - Goalless at half-time
The FC Goa defence has been tested tonight but some last-gasp interventions and luck has seen them through so far. Al Wahda will be disappointed by how the scoreline looks at the break.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
44' - Dheeraj saves
Dheeraj forced into another save and there was no offside flag this time. It was Tim Matavz this time but the young goalkeeper goes down in time to collect the ball. Busy few minutes for the FC Goa custodian.
Four minutes of added time signalled.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
41' - Goa hangs on
A quick free-kick almost caught FC Goa out there. Khalil took his shot on from the edge of the box but Dheeraj makes the save. The offside flag was up later though but Dheeraj had a save to make there to make sure.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
37' - Dangerous ball in
Khalil finds himself with space in the right side of the box and Dheeraj comes out to block him. The Al Wahda forward, though, reaches the ball first and sends a cuts the ball back into the danger zone. With Dheeraj stranded, it just needed a touch from one of his teammates but fortunately for Goa, the ball is cleared.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
34' - FC Goa pegged back into their own half
Most of the game is being played in FC Goa's half now and Ishan Pandita looks like an isolated figure up front. The Gaurs have tried to play him in with some long searching balls but Pandita has found it hard against the tall Al Wahda centre backs.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
28' - Ambitious try from Ortiz
Jorge Ortiz has had little joy till now but the Spaniard is trying hard to get in the game. Ortiz won the ball back in midfield and twisted and turned into space. With space for a shot, he tries to catch the opposition goalkeeper out from 50 yards out but his shot sails over.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
23' - Chance for Al Wahda
First big chance for the visitors. Fares Juma is free in the Goa box during a corner but his header is straight at Dheeraj Singh. Either side of the goalkeeper and we'd have had the first goal of the match.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
19' - Dheeraj Singh comes out bravely
A ball from the deep almost sends Khalil Ibrahim through on goal but Dheeraj comes out bravely to make sure the Al Wahda forward can't get his shot in.
Khalil caught the youngster in his follow through but Dheeraj shakes it off after some magic spray by the FC Goa physio. Still goalless at Fatorda.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
15' - Matar causing problems for the Goa backline
Veteran Ismaeil Matar's movement up front has caused some problems for the FC Goa backline so far but a few final-second interventions from Donachie and Gonzalez has averted any serious dangers on Dheeraj Singh's goal so far.
FC Goa midfielders need to keep a closer eye on the 38-year-old.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
12' - Al Wahda forced into an early change
A long pause in play after a aerial clash between Al Wahda's Abdulla Hamad and FC Goa's Glan Martins. The UAE man came off the worse and had to be carried off the field. Mansor Al-Harbi comes in to replace the midfielder.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
8' - FC Goa earns the first corner of the game
The Gaurs win the first corner of the match but Brandon's delivery in the box doesn't amount to much.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
5' - Last-ditch tackle from Donachie
A dangerous situation there but James Donachie to the rescue. A lose ball fell for Matar at the edge of the FC Goa penalty box but Donachie intervenes with a last-ditch tackle, Al Wahda players appeal for a foul but the referee waves it off. Well-timed one from Donachie.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
2' - Al Wahda dominating possession
The visitors have seen more of the ball in the early goings but FC Goa have looked well-organised at the back so far.
Score: Al Wahda 0-0 FC Goa
8:00 PM IST - Kick-off
We're underway at the Fatorda.
7:30 PM IST - Coaches comments
Despite the loss in the first game. I was not unhappy with the performance of the team. First of all we played one of the best teams in Asia and I felt we at least deserved a point. We are facing an opponent who already have a point but one win can change the whole dynamics of the group and we’re here to do so - Henk Ten Cate.
We earned a point in the last match and we are obviously looking to improve and continue in the same way in our next match. It’s important to have control in the way we attack, especially in the final third. The most important aspect here is to work as a unit and stay focused on Champions League football and nothing else. Of course, it is the most important journey for us as a club but we must keep our heads in the game - Juan Ferrando.
7:05 PM IST - Al Wahda vs FC Goa starting line-ups
The line-ups are in. While FC Goa coach Juan Ferrando has named an unchanged starting line-up to the team he fielded against Al Rayyan in the previous match, Henk Ten Cate has made a few tweaks to the side he put out against Persepolis FC.
The most notable one being club legend and captain Ismaeil Matar starts. The 38-year-old started from the bench in the last game. With Omar Khrbin, Tim Matavz and Ismaeil Matar all starting, the Emirati team's game plan seems obvious - all out attack.
Al Wahda Starting XI: Mohamed Al Shamsi (GK), Lucas Pimenta, Abdulla Al Karbi, Ahmed Rashid, Fares Juma, Khalil Ibrahim, Lee Myung-Joo, Abdulla Hamad, Omar Khribin, Tim Matavz, Ismaeil Matar (C)
FC Goa Starting XI: Dheeraj Singh (GK), Seriton Fernandes, Ivan Gonzalez, James Donachie, Sanson Pereira, Glan Martins, Edu Bedia (C), Alexander Romario Jesuraj, Brandon Fernandes, Jorge Ortiz, Ishan Pandita
6:10 PM IST – FC Goa in search of historic win against Al Wahda
India’s FC Goa face off against UAE side Al Wahda at the Fatorda Stadium today in their second AFC Champions League (ACL) 2021 Group E encounter.
Having held Qatari side Al Rayyan to a goalless draw in their ACL debut earlier this week, FC Goa have already registered their first point in the competition.
It was a historic moment for Indian football as it also marked the first-ever point registered by an Indian side in Asia’s top-tier club competition.
Juan Ferrando’s men will look to build on the momentum with a maiden win in the competition at the expense of Al Wahda. Al Wahda vs FC Goa’s AFC Champions League 2021 match kicks off at 8:00 PM IST.
FC Goa will go into the contest full of confidence but will still have their work cut out for them. Helmed by former Ajax coach Henk Ten Cate, the Abu Dhabi-based Al Wahda are much more experienced contenders on the Asian stage.
The tie against FC Goa will be Al Wahda’s 13th ACL appearance – 11 more than FC Goa’s tally.
Al Wahda also features bigger names on their roster with Slovenian striker Tim Matavz, veteran Ismail Matar and Syrian ace Omar Khribin – the 2017 Asian Player of the Year winner – in their ranks.
The Indian side, however, will have momentum on their side. While they drew against Al Rayyan, Al Wahda slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Iran’s Persepolis FC in their opening group game.
Another aspect favouring FC Goa will be the venue. With COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, all AFC Champions League group matches are being played at centralised venues. With Goa the designated stage for Group E ties, FC Goa will enjoy home turf advantage in all their matches.
While a historic first win will no doubt be a landmark moment for both Indian football and the Gaurs, a victory against Al Wahda may also be crucial for FC Goa if they are to progress beyond the group stage.
With Persepolis – probably the strongest team in the group – awaiting them in three days, three points from today’s match may do wonders for FC Goa’s confidence.
Stay tuned for the starting line-ups and team news.