Mumbai: Two teams, both playing the Spanish way and attacking with flair would have been a sight to behold for many Indian fans. But Goa won’t face Bengaluru on Saturday in the ISL final.
Still the brand of football Sergio Lobera’s boys have presented this season have enthralled many across the country. But what’s been more exciting is how football have once again taken over the once ‘Brazil of India.’
There is no doubting the fact that football is an important part in a Goan’s life and it was no wonder to see FC Goa get dedicated support ever since ISL hit Indian football running.
But despite the mixed fortunes the ‘Gaurs’ have had so far in the league, making two semi-final appearances and a final, the overwhelming support they have been receiving is phenomenal.
Having reached the semifinals in the inaugural season in 2014, they went a step further in 2015 as Brazilian legend Zico almost masterminded a title triumph. Chennaiyin FC, inspired by Stiven Mendoza, though had the last laugh and dealt the Goans a heartbreak on home soil in the final.
Not able to overcome the defeat many unsaw the season before, Goa hit the table-spoon. Moreover, Zico, who was almost revered in the entire state, parted ways with the club after a poor campaign.
Given how things had unfurled for them in the previous years, ISL four was one to breakthrough and undergoing a transition from the much more fancied Samba style to Spanish possession based football made this season all the more crucial for Goa and despite not winning the title, Lobera made Goans fall in love with football again.
“When I first got here, I communicated that I wanted to play an offensive and attacking style of football and I think with us scoring goals, it shows that things are working,” said Lobera.
Lobera’s team ended up as the highest scoring team, at least in the league stage with a whopping 42 goals in 18 matches. Spanish duo of Ferran Corominas and Manuel Lanzarote combined to score an amazing 30 goals.
FC Goa have always been an attacking team, with Zico’s teams topping the goal-scoring chart in the league phase in the 2015 season with 29 goals in 14 games. In 2014, Goa were the second-best attacking outfit (21 goals). Even during the forgettable 2016 campaign, they had the fifth-best attacking record despite finishing bottom.
In fact, Zico had once remarked that his attacking brand of football represents Goa. This year, Lobera took it to a different level as evident from the packed house for most matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.