ISL 2017: Coro and Miku magic masks FC Goa and Bengaluru FC’s deficient defending

It’s goals which matter in the end. It’s all about how many more you have nicked in than the opponent which would secure you three points. Football is all about entertaining the fans and playing an attacking brand.

What one witnessed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was seven goals and probably, neutrals would have enjoyed the game. However, there are enough reasons to be concerned given some absolute brainless defending from both sides.

Bengaluru FC allowed Ferran Corominas to run past at least three players and score the opening goal. He wasn’t challenged or closed down upon by any player. From a free-kick, Goa exposed Bengaluru’s vulnerability in the left-back position where they have deployed Rahul Bheke, who is a centre-back by trade and right footed, and scored their second. Also Lenny Rodrigues was caught staring as he allowed Coro to get beyond him. The third goal was a penalty while the fourth saw Coro break the offside trap leaving Juanan to play catch up.

This wasn’t all as the score-line could have been much worse when Coro was wrongly called for offside when Harmanjot Khabra was guilty of playing him on. Also from a corner-kick, Edu Bedia was left unmarked at the near post in the second half.

FC Goa once again put on a show of shoddy defending after the game against Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC. Miku scored between the legs of Laxmikant Kattimani for the first while the goalkeeper came off his line to clear a corner and completely misjudged it to allow Erik Paartalu to nick it in. Mohamed Ali and Narayan Das couldn’t throw Paartalu off balance despite their combined efforts. Kattimani almost gifted a goal to Bengaluru with a poor pass but made amends with a save off Sunil Chhetri.

However, Miku’s goal would probably go down as one of the best scored in the ISL. He twisted and turned which left Ali, Narayan, Bruno Pinheiro and Ali once again in his wake along with Kattimani to slot the ball home. This goal made a mockery of Goa's defence.

ISL

Lobera will be pleased to get three points in his first home game of the season however, their issues  at the back are certainly a cause of concern. Not every time can an attack bail you out. Yes, Lobera has brought some fantastic foreign players but the quality of Indian players especially at the back would certainly give headaches to any coach.

“Even when we lose, I don't highlight personal mistakes. We need to improve a lot with what we're doing, particularly because we allowed a team with 10 men to come back from a two-goal deficit,” said Lobera which highlights he is very well aware of the issues his team face.

For Roca, what would concern him immediately is that they need to find a solution for the left-back position. Lenny was probably one of the best midfielders in the country but going by his performance in Goa, opposition teams would take notice of his poor positioning and unwillingness to tackle.

Except Mumbai City FC and to an extent ATK, no team has a good back-up goalkeeper. In the absence of Gurpreet Sandhu, it will be interesting to see who Bengaluru field in their next away trip to Guwahati.

Both coaches, who have been associated with Barcelona, have a lot to worry about especially in defence.