FC Goa Edges Past Punjab FC to Bolster Semi-Final Hopes in ISL 2024-25

FC Goa secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, strengthening its position in the upper echelons of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 table. With the win, the Gaurs climbed to 45 points from 22 games, tightening their grip on second place and inching closer to a coveted direct berth in the semi-finals.

The victory sees FC Goa establish an eight-point lead over Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC, who sit third and fourth respectively. However, Jamshedpur still has three games in hand, leaving room for the race to heat up in the coming weeks.

FC Goa came into the match with a clear sense of purpose, dictating the tempo through fluent gameplay both in open play and from set-piece situations. The visitors created several promising chances early on, but the breakthrough came right before the first-half whistle. 

Carl McHugh proved to be the difference-maker for the Gaurs. In the dying moments of the opening half, Udanta Singh launched a long throw-in into the Punjab FC box, targeting McHugh’s well-timed run. The Irish midfielder connected cleanly, using his left foot to slot the ball into the bottom left corner, leaving the Punjab FC goalkeeper with no chance. The crucial goal handed FC Goa a 1-0 advantage heading into the break.

Punjab FC showed signs of life in the early moments of the second half, adopting a more direct approach in search of an equaliser. One of their brightest moments came in the 57th minute when Ricky Shabong attempted a long-range strike following a throw-in. However, FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari confidently stepped forward to collect the effort, keeping the Gaurs’ narrow lead intact.

As the clock ticked down, Punjab FC intensified its attacking efforts. In the 87th minute, Ninthoinganba Meetei and Khaiminthang Lhungdim combined in a promising move near FC Goa’s goal. However, Lhungdim’s left-footed attempt sailed high and wide, capping off a frustrating night for the home side.

With the loss, Punjab FC remains in 11th place with 24 points from 22 matches, leaving them with an uphill battle to climb into the playoff picture. Meanwhile, FC Goa’s resolute defensive performance and timely goal have brought them one step closer to securing a direct semi-final spot, with only a handful of matches left in the season.

For the Gaurs, every point counts as they look to seal their place among the league’s elite, while Punjab FC will need to regroup quickly to salvage their campaign.