FC Goa has successfully secured successive qualifications for the AFC Champions League Two after retaining the AIFF Super Cup, defeating East Bengal in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Following the victory, Head Coach Manolo Marquez emphasized the club’s ambition to make playing at the highest continental level a routine event.
“We must play competitive games every year. We need to qualify every season to increase our level because when you play against better players, your level improves,” Marquez stated, highlighting the importance of consistent AFC Champions League Two participation for team development.
The Final Showdown
The Super Cup final against East Bengal was a grueling affair, with 120 minutes of intense football failing to break the deadlock, resulting in a 0-0 scoreline.
Marquez believed the goalless draw was a fair outcome for the tactical game, despite East Bengal’s assistant coach, Bino George, claiming his side created superior opportunities. Marquez contested this, noting FC Goa had hit the post twice and had the clearest goalscoring chances.
“I think both teams deserved a cup. They played really well,” Marquez conceded, though he acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining rhythm due to large gaps between competitive fixtures.
Penalty Drama and Home Support
The match culminated in a penalty shootout, which Marquez admitted felt like a “lottery” as both teams were physically exhausted.
FC Goa captain Borja Herrera missed the team’s first attempt, but saves by the goalkeeper and misses from East Bengal’s Mohammed Rashid and P.V. Vishnu handed the defending champions the victory.
Herrera expressed his relief and joy, especially winning the trophy in front of the home fans after previous disappointments: “To do it in front of our fans is a very nice feeling. Because we lost two semifinals here in successive seasons in the ISL, and we knew that was not okay. We felt that they deserved this victory and this trophy.”
Both Marquez and George agreed that the home advantage provided by the crowd was a decisive factor in the shootout victory. “Today, I think the fans made the difference, 100 per cent,” George said.
Finally, addressing the uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League’s future, Marquez stressed the urgency of resolving the situation, stating, “everyone needs football because we cannot stop.”
