FC Goa vs Jamshedpur FC: Borja's brace, yet another heartbreak for Khalid and other talking points

FC Goa are the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 champions.

Don Manolo, as the Spaniard is popularly referred to, can bid adieu to the Gaurs happily after he culminated his tenure by securing a continental spot for FC Goa next season. After Khalid Jamil became the first coach to complete a league double over Manolo, one could say the Gaurs entered this game as an underdog.

However, the Spaniard proved all his critics wrong and helped FC Goa to win the Kalinga Super Cup 2025. This victory not only rewards them with the silverware but also gives them an opportunity to showcase their talent and quality among the best sides in Asia in the AFC Asian Champions League 2 or the AFC Challenge Cup.

From Khalid’s heartbreak, Borja’s brace to Manolo Marquez’s departure, let’s take a close look at all the talking points from tonight’s encounter.

Borja Herrera’s brace seal the win for FC Goa

After scoring that Olimpico in the semi-final fixture against Mohun Bagan, Borja Herrera impressed in the finals against Jamshedpur. The Spaniard steps up and performs when his team needs him the most. After scoring the opening goal, he didn’t retreat and helped the Gaurs take a two-goal cushion after his stunning strike.

He completely outplayed the Jamshedpur defence. One could argue that he should have been given the opportunity to net his hat-trick, but he still pulled out a performance worth remembering for the ages. He didn’t let Manolo feel the absence of Armando Sadiku in this tournament.

ALSO READ: Kalinga Super Cup: List of all winning coaches

Did unnecessarily fielding six foreigners cost Jamshedpur?

The Kalinga Super Cup do offer teams to field all six foreigners in the playing 11 at the same time. However, this move may sometimes tempt coaches to unnecessarily field an additional foreign player in place of a capable Indian player.

Tonight seemed exactly the same for the Red Miners. It felt as if Jordan Murray was dragged on for around an hour until there was no hope left for a possible comeback. Had Ritwik, Imran or Sanan started, and Murray came in as a super sub, things could have been different, as Murray previously scripted a comeback victory against Goa in Fatorda in their opening ISL game.

Heartbreak for Khalid and a happy farewell for Manolo

It is never easy to be Khalid Jamil. Khalid not only took an underdog Jamshedpur FC into the ISL Semi-Finals but also scripted history with the Red Miners to propel them into their first-ever finals in any major competition. But despite a valiant effort, the Red Miners conclude the footballing calendar with no silverware, yet too many positives to build upon.

Manolo Marquez can happily take charge of the Indian National Football team after leading FC Goa to the Kalinga Super Cup victory. Apart from securing a continental spot for the Gaurs, he has left too many things for the new coach to arrive and continue his legacy.

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