By Asian Champions League-FC Goa eyeing a first win in ACL knockout round race: FC Goa’s morale has been reduced by two consecutive defeats but they can still remain hopeful in the AFC Football Champions League (SL) and for this, they will face Al Reyan of Qatar in a reverse match here on Monday. Will have to be defeated.
Both teams played 0–0 in their Group E match, although Qatar’s team dominated the entire match.
Al Rayan has one point from four matches and has been knocked out of the knockout race by three defeats while FC Goa has two points from four matches and still remains in the Round 16 race.
FC Goa, the league stage winner of the Indian Super League 2019-20, will now look to register their first win in the ACL, which started with two goalless draws, one against the UAE’s Al Wahda team.
Juan Ferrando’s Indian team lost 1-2 and 0-4 to Persepolis FC of Iran in the previous leg.
FC Goa’s physical, technical and tactical deficiencies were revealed in the previous match against the Iranian club, although Ferrando had rested some players of the starting XI to play in the last two group matches.
Goalkeeper Naveen Kumar made two big mistakes which led to two goals and he certainly will not play in Monday’s match, replacing Moirangthem Dheeraj Singh, who had a great performance. However, a few days ago, his great-grandmother passed away, who had come to Kovid-19 positive.
FC Goa will also be strengthened by the return of captain Edu Bedia who scored a historic first goal in the ACL against Persepolis.
