In arguably the game of the tournament so far, former champions FC Goa managed to get all three points as they started their campaign with a thrilling 4-3 victory over tournament debutants and I-League 3 side Rangdajied United FC in a Group F encounter of the 2024 Durand Cup held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. Leander D’Cunha, Devendra Murgaokar, Abawiha and Vellington Fernandes were on the scoresheet for the Gaurs, whereas Pajuh, Pynbha and Apborlang Kurbah scored for the Meghalayan outfit.
There was a lot of uncertainty with Group F of the 2024 Durand Cup because Hyderabad FC was unable to put up a squad to compete in the tournament due to their well-known financial struggles. Former I-League regulars and multi-time Shillong Premier League Champions, Rangdajied United FC were a last-minute addition to this group, who would be playing their matches at home in Shillong itself.
Both teams started with an all-Indian squad for this match. FC Goa’s head coach for this tournament, Israil Gurung, lined up with a 4-3-2-1 formation, with midfielder Leander D’Cunha leading a talented young team including the likes of Malsawmtlunga, Lemmet Tangvah and striker Devendra Murgaokar. Rangdajied also started with a young team, mostly having local players from Meghalaya and was led by their left-back Balamlynti Khongjee.
The game was affected by a heavy downpour of rain which significantly damaged the quality of the pitch, resulting in a very scrappy but equally unpredictable and thrilling game.
As expected, the game started with both teams struggling to make accurate passes and play according to their plans due to the heavily water-logged pitch. Players were unable to make ground passes and were slipping very easily due to the surface. The first goal of the game is a great example of this as Goa’s centre-back Mallikjan Kalegar slipped while controlling a ball in his own half, allowing young forward Owanijuh Pajuh to pounce and strike the ball past the keeper in a regular one-on-one situation to give Rangdajied United the lead in the 19th minute.
The game continued with both teams relying on long balls and even though the Gaurs did try to play out from the back at times and maintain possession of the ball by playing simple passes, the unpredictability of the ground was making it very difficult to execute. None of the teams had control of the game as the first half did to stand up as a very watchable half.
However, things changed drastically in the second right from the get-go. Goa’s striker Murgaokar knocked the ball past Rangdajied’s goalkeeper, forcing him to foul him with his hands and won a smart penalty just a minute into the second half. Gaurs’ captain Leander D’Cunha’s penalty kick was initially saved by the keeper but he scored from the rebound to equalize for Goa in the 48th minute.
After the equalizer, Goa started dominating the game and looked to attack more often with long balls and fast transitions. Just ten minutes later, Vellington Fernandes crossed the ball into the box, which reached Murgaokar who was left unmarked in the box. Murgaokar met the ball with a smart finish as FC Goa got the lead for the first time in the game.
Even though not much was expected from the inexperienced Rangdajied United players in terms of a comeback, Rangdajied’s young star, Pynbha, scored a stunning equalizer for his team just two minutes later as he expertly finished with a brilliant left-footed curler into the top-left corner of the goal, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance to save it. Local fans were jubilant after the goal, resulting in a very good atmosphere for the rest of the game.
The fans witnessed an entertaining remaining half an hour, with both teams looking to find a winner, resulting in a very end-to-end attacking game overall. In the 78th minute, Rangdajied’s centre-back Denelson took down Goa’s Abawiha with a poor tackle, resulting in another penalty kick for the Gaurs. Abawiha scored from the spot kick to give his team a 3-2 lead.
Rangdajied’s desperate attacks were easily defended by the Gaurs, who did not look like they would concede. However, this game had more in store for everyone as substitute Apborlang Kurbah scored an unbelievable goal, that probably was intended as a cross but instead, it curled and beat the keeper to his far post to equalize the game for the local team in the 85th minute.
The fans along with the Rangdajied players were elated to have saved the game from the jaws of defeat in such thrilling fashion, however, FC Goa would have the last laugh and break all the Rangdajied hearts as a desperate cross hit the goalpost, only to fall to the feet of Vellington Fernandes, who slammed the ball past the keeper easily to seal all three points for FC Goa in a 4-3 win in stoppage time, to the agony of the deflated and heartbroken home fans in the stadium.
FC Goa joined Shillong Lajong at the top of the group after this much-needed win and they would be looking to top the group to get direct entry into the knockout rounds of the competition by winning their remaining matches as well.
Aibanjop Shadap’s Rangdajied would take time to recover after such a heartbreaking defeat, but they should be very proud of their performance as they were confirmed as participants of the Durand Cup just a few days earlier and they ended up putting up a brave fight against an ISL team. The fans, however, have a lot to look forward to as they will be facing their local and bitter rivals Shillong Lajong later in the tournament.
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