LOBO double sinks FC GOA on home Turf

Cavin Lobo scored a brace to help league leaders Atlético de Kolkata to a remarkable comeback win over FC Goa by the odd goal in three at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao here tonight. The home side went ahead in the 21^st minute courtesy an André Santos strike, but local lad Lobo brought heartbreak to his state mates with a late equaliser in the 72^nd minute and a superbly struck match winner in the 84^th minute to help the visitors maintain their unbeaten run.

Goa looked the sharper side in attack and possession in a contentious match and got their breakthrough soon enough. With Denzil Franco down with a knock, American referee Christopher Penso allowed play to go on and Santos buried the ball into the net with a ferocious left foot finish past Apoula Edel, the Cameroonian-born Armenian keeper who was picked ahead of Subhasish Roy Chowdhury today. This was the first time that the Kolkata side had fallen behind in the tournament.

The second half started cautiously for both teams, with no real chances coming up till after the hour mark. Goalkeeper Edel had a nervy period as Goa imposed themselves on the match and had several chances to increase the lead. But it was the visitors who got the goal at the other end.

Kolkata forward Fikru Teferra justified his manager’s decision to keep him on, despite a yellow card and a couple of incidents by playing in a wonderfully lobbed pass into the path of Lobo, who controlled and coolly finished past Jan Šeda. Lobo then produced a wonder strike when he picked up a loose clearance outside the box and thumped the ball in with his left foot past the hapless Czech keeper for the match winner. Goa piled on pressure late in the game, but no to avail and even seven minutes of injury time was not sufficient to avert the inevitable.  

Referee Penso had a tough match, having to dispense seven yellow cards in the game that also saw visiting goal-keeping coach Deshi Bakhtaver being ordered out. The Kolkata side now have 10 points from four games, four clear of Chennaiyin FC who have played two games less, while Goa slip down to sixth place with a mere point from three games