“It was a day to get three points,” says frustrated FC Goa boss Carlos Pena after they share spoils with NorthEast United in a 2-2 draw

It was a disappointing night for FC Goa as coach Carlos Pena could not just believe that his team failed to pick up a win against NorthEast United in their latest Indian Super League clash. It puts the Gaurs in danger as Chennaiyin FC are breathing down their neck and another slip up will mean them missing out from the playoff spots this season.

There’s so much frustration around the FC Goa camp mainly because they took the lead twice and gave it away both times in a match which saw three penalties being awarded in total. It was Edu Bedia who broke the deadlock for FC Goa but soon Wilmar Jordan Gil restored parity from the spot as the first half ended on levelled terms.

The second half again saw FC Goa dominating the play and keeping more of the possession as they were awarded via a penalty which Iker Guarrotxena made no mistake to put his team ahead once again. But the Highlanders were resilient and simply denied defeat as Wilmar Jordan Gil scored the equalizer again from the spot and helped NorthEast United earn a single point from a tough fixture.

Carlos Pena who was left a very frustrated figure shared how his team were not good enough in the penalty areas as they failed to take the chances that came their way. He felt the Highlanders were much better in the box and hence they forced a draw. “It was disappointing because today was a day to get three points, if we had dominated both the boxes then it was a day to get all three points. We created chances and we couldn’t convert, we gave them too many chances to score a goal and I think they (NorthEast United FC) were better in the boxes,” the head coach said at the post match press conference.

FC Goa conceded two penalties and both were converted and therefore it irks Pena as he wants more urgency from his defenders. However he also shared that he is not sure whether both were clear penalties or not but the team surely wanted three points and this will hurt them going forward.

“I am not sure if both are penalties but now is not the time to complain and give excuses. When you score you have to defend with whatever you have, so yes I am upset as we were looking forward to three points tonight,” Pena stated.

This is NorthEast United’s first draw of the season as they showed great heart and commitment to match FC Goa’s standards and comeback twice from a losing position. For FC Goa this was the first time they dropped points from a winning position this season so that will sting. However Pena feels that it is not unusual as he feels that the Highlanders have improved in the second half of the season. “I was not surprised, they changed their way of playing and I have watched their (NorthEast United FC’s) every game and I knew they would improve and put more presence into the boxes. They created more problems for us with two strikers, I am sure that NorthEast United FC will get more points,” the Spanish tactician opined.
FC Goa after this draw are in sixth position four points clear of seventh placed Chennaiyin FC though Thomas Brdaric’s men have a game in hand. However the Gaurs will next face Kerala Blasters on 22nd January at home and they will hope that they can return to winning ways.