FC GOA SEAL ISL SEMIFINAL SPOT AS KEEPERS SEE RED
JAMSHEDPUR: Spanish forward Ferran Corominas struck twice as FC Goa blanked Jamshedpur FC 3-0 to seal a last-four spot in an eventful match which saw both the rival goalkeepers being red-carded on Sunday.
FC Goa needed at least a draw to seal their spot in the final four, but the win took them to third in the points table, one place above Pune City.
The Goan side will take on Chennaiyin in the last four while table toppers Bengaluru face FC Pune City in the other play-off match. Jamshedpur fought valiantly but are now out of the reckoning and will look forward to the Super Cup after finishing fifth in the league.
It took just seven minutes for the first major event of the match. Jamshedpur had started with a lot of attacking intent, but were left deflated when Subrata Paul handled the ball outside the area and got himself sent off.
Head coach Steve Coppell sacrificed Bikash Jairu to send in goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh and he conceded at the half-hour mark. It was a typical free-flowing move from Goa. Hugo Boumous slipped Seriton Fernandes through, and his cross was missed by Tiri, leaving Corominas to score from the far post with ease.
Jamshedpur had no option but to chase the match and that left big gaps at the back. Lanzarote’s aerial through ball found Corominas on the run, and he slammed it past the goalkeeper after excellent technique to control the ball. With a two-goal cushion, the visitors started attacking with all their force to finish the match off.
ROBBIE KEANE SCORES IN ATK VICTORY
KOLKATA: Robbie Keane scored in his third successive game and it ensured that defending champions ATK avoided finishing last in the fourth edition of the Indian Super League (ISL). NorthEast United did, the team paying for John Mosquera squandering three clear opportunities on the night. Sunday’s 1-0 win against NorthEast United was ATK’s first in nine games and had Keane ending the competition with six goals. Ferran Corominas has got thrice as many to lead the charts but then was hit by injuries, Keane has played only nine games. Of the 16 points ATK ended ISL4 with, seven came from Keane’s goals.