Three FC Goa players who can affect the ACL 2 fixture against Istiklol

FC Goa will lock horns with FC Istiklol in their next ACL 2 fixture.

FC Goa are set to travel to Tajikistan to play against FC Istiklol in what will be their second AFC Champions League 2 fixture. The Gaurs could not make a positive start to the continental campaign, but they did not look out of place when they faced Iraq’s Al Zawraa in their opening match.

After dropping points at their home, this fixture has a lot more riding on it. Since it is an away fixture, the challenge will be tougher for the Gaurs. To put on a good show in Tajikistan, a collective effort will be required from the defending Super Cup champions.

In this article, we will look at three FC Goa players who will have the eyeballs on them and can impact the match with their brilliance.

Dejan Drazic

Dejan Drazic, unlike the playoff round fixture against Oman’s Al Seeb, could not make a goal-scoring contribution against Al Zawraa, but he was an important attacking prospect for the Gaurs. On the left wing, he made some impactful darting runs, but the final product could not produce anything substantial.

Without scoring goals, FC Goa will not be able to make any impact on the game against Istiklol, and for that, Dejan Drazic’s presence will be key. His ability to stretch the opposition and find goal-scoring chances from the wide areas of the pitch can prove to be a menace to Istikol.

Borja Herrera

FC Goa’s attacking responsibilities in the centre of the park lie on the shoulders of the Spanish Borja Herrera. The attacking midfielder had an impressive game against Al Zawraa in the first ACL 2 game. He made some dangerous link-ups with players on the flanks and Javier Siverio.

Herrera’s progressive play will be crucial for Manolo Marquez. Istiklol will be a tough opposition to break. It will take something special from Borja to make inroads in Istiklol’s defense. His vision and precision passes will have to be exploited for FC Goa to score goals.

Udanta Singh

We saw a glimpse of the old Udanta Singh against Al Zawraa. Udanta, in his prime, would take the defenders for a run and overtake them to put delicious crosses into the box. There were signs of something similar in FC Goa’s ACL 2 opener.

His combination with Boris Singh on the right flank put the Al Zawraa under pressure, giving them a tough time. Against Istiklol, we can see FC Goa being pushed in their own half for most of the game. In such circumstances, Udanta’s speed will be an asset for the Gaurs to launch quick counterattacks and exploit spaces behind the opposition’s defense.

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.