FC Goa defeated Chennaiyin FC 2-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday in the Indian Super League 2024-25. With this win, FC Goa moved to second place in the table with 33 points, narrowing the gap to Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who are leading with 37 points. Meanwhile, Chennaiyin FC's winless streak stretched to six games. Their last victory came on December 11 against Hyderabad FC. Throughout the match, FC Goa maintained dominance with 58.6% possession and eight shots on target, while Chennaiyin FC failed to register a shot on target.

Guarrotxena's Early Strike

The game began with FC Goa taking control. In the 11th minute, a corner from Boris Singh was mishandled by Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Mohammed Nawaz. Brison Fernandes’s shot hit the woodwork, but Iker Guarrotxena quickly capitalized on the rebound, slotting it into the high center of the goal to give FC Goa a 1-0 lead.

Sangwan Doubles the Advantage

Just 15 minutes later, in the 26th minute, FC Goa extended their lead. Guarrotxena made a backward pass to Carl McHugh, who then lobbed the ball over Chennaiyin FC’s defense to Aakash Sangwan. Sangwan controlled the ball with a deft touch and finished neatly into the bottom left corner, making it 2-0.

FC Goa Maintains Pressure

After their second goal, FC Goa ramped up the intensity. They continued to push forward, with Guarrotxena nearly scoring a third in the 31st minute. However, Nawaz made a crucial save. Meanwhile, Chennaiyin FC struggled to create opportunities, as FC Goa’s solid defense and midfield play kept them on the back foot.

Chennaiyin FC Misses Key Opportunity

In the 69th minute, Chennaiyin FC had a golden chance to get back into the game. Connor Shields sent a cross to Wilmar Jordan Gil, who passed to Farukh Choudhary. With ample space to shoot, Choudhary blasted the ball over the crossbar, wasting the opportunity.

Final Efforts Fall Short

Chennaiyin FC made substitutions in the 82nd minute, bringing on fresh legs to increase their attacking presence. However, their efforts were fruitless. Daniel Chima Chukwu had a chance in the 85th minute but was flagged offside. On the other hand, Sangwan continued to pressure Nawaz but was unable to add a third. Ultimately, FC Goa held on to their 2-0 lead and secured the victory.

Key Player

Aakash Sangwan was the standout performer of the match. He completed 47 out of 55 passes, made one clearance, two tackles, and a key assist. He also found the back of the net with his clinical finish. Looking ahead, FC Goa will face Jamshedpur FC on February 2, while Chennaiyin FC will play Kerala Blasters FC on January 30.