Goa and Bengaluru shared the spoils after an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Fatorda stadium on match day three of the ISL this season.
Bengaluru started brightly and though FC Goa saw much more of the ball, as has been the case this season, the team with the less possession looked more menacing going forward. Following that narrative, Bengaluru’s new signing Cleiton Silva broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with a smart header past Nawaz after some sloppy defending from the home side. The Blues went into half time meriting their slender 1-0 lead.
FC Goa took the game to the away side after the interval but still lacked the cutting edge going forward and it was Bengaluru FC who struck again 12 minutes into the second half. This time, Erik Paartalu finding Juanan at the back post for an easy finish; again, courtesy of some disjointed defending from FC Goa.
The away side looked to be cruising away with the win until the introduction of Brandon Fernandes injected the much needed directness and incisiveness for the home side and turned the game on its head. FC Goa pulled one back with their new signing Igor Angulo finishing expertly from a tight angle in the 66th minute; Fernandes, playing a big part in the lead up to that goal. The midfielder was at the heart of things again as FC Goa regained parity just three minutes later, Igor Angulo finding the back of the net again chesting home Romario’s cross from the byline.
Both teams pressed for the winner in the last quarter of the match but newcomer Igor Angulo’s quickfire brace was enough to steal an all important point against Bengaluru for FC Goa.