FC Goa were made to pay for not taking their chances on the night as they went down 4-1 to Mumbai City FC on Thursday evening in Andheri, Mumbai. 

A brace by Jorge Pereyra Diaz and goals from Lallianzuala Chhangte and Alberto Noguera helped Mumbai City extend their unbeaten run in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season. Iker Guarrotxena scored the only goal for the Gaurs in the first half.

Earlier in the day, FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena made two changes to the playing XI that started in the defeat against Bengaluru FC last week, as Edu Bedia returned to replace Princeton Rebello while Noah Sadaoui made way for Redeem Tlang. The latter was impactful especially in the first half, and was unfortunate not to return home with a goal.

While Mumbai City kick-started proceedings in the first half, it was the Gaurs who got the earliest goal-scoring opportunity. A long ball from deep in the midfield by Ayush Chhetri found Alvaro Vazquez, who advanced into the box before attempting a shot from a tight angle.

Phurba Lachenpa, the Islanders’ shot-stopper had it covered, however, as he parried the ball away for a corner-kick.

In the next few minutes, Redeem Tlang and Marc Valiente came close to scoring as well, but ultimately it was Des Buckingham’s men who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute.

Jorge Pereyra Diaz netted his fifth goal of the season after receiving the ball in Goa’s box and side-stepping Valiente. It served as a wake-up call of sorts for the Gaurs, who intensified their attacks and were rewarded for it six minutes later.

Tlang was in the thick of things once again as he latched on to a long ball from the midfield and laid it off for Iker Guarrotxena just outside the box. The 29-year-old, in turn, fired straight at Lachenpa who spilled the ball into the net to gift Pena’s men their equalizer.