Manolo Marquez believes FC Goa played out a 'fair' result in 1-1 draw against NorthEast United FC

FC Goa recorded their third draw in the last five games.

Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa, coached by Manolo Marquez shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in a tightly contested battle against NorthEast United at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. The matchweek 17 encounter saw the Gaurs endure the disappointment of conceding a late equalizer, when the Highlanders striker Jithin M.S. found the back of the net in the 76th minute.

While the Spaniard acknowledged the fairness of the result, the draw will feel like a missed opportunity. A win would have sent the club close the gap on league leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant by six points.

A painful lesson for Manolo Marquez and his men

The missed opportunity continued to sting the Spaniard and his men in the post match press conference. Having went ahead with Mohammed Yasir’s goal in the 65th minute, the Gaurs were cruising before the Highlanders equalised.

While talking about the result, he stated, “It’s painful that the other team scored in the last minutes, but I feel the score is fair…Both teams had chances, but not too many. It was a tough match, and in this league, every point requires a fight.”

Gaurs missed Borja Herrera against NorthEast United FC

FC Goa opened the scoring through Mohammad Yasir in the 65th minute, whose strike gave the visitors a crucial lead in a game of fine margins. While expressing his satisfaction with Yasir’s performance, Marquez shared his delight over Brison Fernandes, who logged significant minutes.

However, the Spaniard lamented the absence of playmaker Borja Herrera, who will not be available for their next couple of matches. While talking about his absence, Marquez stated, “With Borja, we have more football. It’s unfair that he’s out for three games, in my opinion. But Yasir did well, and Brison stepped up. Still, we lacked some fluidity in the build-up at times.”

While Marquez refrained from speculating on the legitimacy of the goal, he credited the opposition for their determination and quality to get that equalizer. He particularly highlighted that the club tried to neutralize the danger posed by players like Néstor Albiach and Parthib Gogoi, but it was Jithin MS, who broke their resilience.

The Gaurs solidify their spot in the ISL playoffs

The result means FC Goa’s unbeaten streak extends to 10 games, a statistic that Marquez views with a lot of cautious optimism. Talking about the unbeaten run, “You can see the bottle as half empty or half full. If we win the next game, we’ll see it as full. If we lose, it’ll feel empty after two consecutive draws.”

When asked about potential reinforcements before the ISL playoffs during the ongoing winter transfer window, the Spaniard appeared content with his current squad. While commenting on transfers, Marquez stated, “We have a balanced team and good foreigners. Aaron De Silva was a strategic signing as an Indian striker, and I’m happy with what we have. Of course, every team can improve, but I believe we can compete for the shield.”

With FC Goa sitting second in the table, the Gaurs remain firmly in the hunt for silverware. While Marquez continues to emphasize the need for resilience and adaptability, the club enters the critical stages of a challenging season.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.