Kolkata, March 5: East Bengal FC and FC Goa played to a goalless draw on Thursday at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan during the 22nd match of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season. This match marked the first scoreless draw between these two prominent Indian football teams from different regions of the country.
FC Goa currently sits temporarily in third place on the table with eight points from four matches, while the Red and Gold Brigade is just below them with seven points from the same number of games. Miguel Ferreira was named the ‘Player of the Match.’
Oscar Bruzon made two changes to East Bengal’s starting eleven. He replaced Jay Gupta and Anton Sojberg with Mohammad Rakip and Naorem Mahesh Singh, while FC Goa’s head coach Manolo Marquez opted to keep his lineup unchanged.
The visitors had their first glimpse of a goal when Ishan Pandita sprinted behind the defenders on a lobbed pass from Dejan Dragić. However, center-back Anwar Ali made a crucial recovery tackle to prevent the striker from taking a shot. East Bengal then seized possession in midfield, while Goa prepared for a counterattack.
The first significant opportunity of the match came for East Bengal 15 minutes in. Naorem Mahesh Singh delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Bipin Singh on the left wing. The winger provided an accurate cross for an unmarked Yusuf Ajezari, but the striker sent his attempt over the crossbar.
On the other end, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill skillfully saved a shot from Brison Fernandes as the visitors broke through the defense with a brilliant move involving Ayush Dev Chhetri and Boris Singh. Shortly after, Boris’s right-footed shot struck the post.
The home team also came close to scoring when Mohammad Rashid unleashed a powerful shot from distance that hit the crossbar. The midfielder’s strong effort ricocheted off the crossbar after slipping through the goalkeeper’s hands. Despite several attempts, both teams remained level at 0-0 by halftime.
The second half was played with a cautious approach. Both teams strengthened their defensive lines, making it difficult for attacking players to create scoring opportunities. Coaches made some substitutions, but these did not significantly alter the game’s flow.
FC Goa came closest to scoring when Abdul Rabih passed to fellow substitute Reinier Fernandes at the edge of the box. However, the midfielder’s right-footed shot sailed over the crossbar.
In the end, both teams had to settle for a point each. East Bengal tried to apply pressure during injury time, but FC Goa maintained their composure, and the match concluded in a 0-0 draw. This was the first match between the two teams that ended without a result.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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