Despite being outplayed on paper, FC Goa started the match with determination, their defense holding firm in the early stages as Al-Nassr pressed from the start. But it didn’t take long for the visitors to break the deadlock when midfielder Angelo Gabriel struck from outside the box.
FC Goa continued to fight but suffered an early setback when Brison Fernandes was forced to come on for Javier Siverio. Al-Nassr took advantage early on, Angelo Gabriel set up Ayman whose cross found defender Haroune Camara. Despite the first touch, Camara calmed down, shrugged off the defenders and slotted the ball home.
The guests were not without a moment. Right-back Boris Singh Thangjam ran down the wing and crossed promisingly, but failed to score a goal. Conversely, Al-Nassr continued to display his attacking prowess, comfortably building play into the penalty area and testing the Goa defense with a long-range effort.
The Fatorda crowd erupted when substitute Brison Fernandes showed his brilliance, dribbling past several Al-Nassr defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the far post to reduce the deficit. The goal caused visible frustration for Inigo Martinez, exposed lapses at the back and served as a warning: FC Goa may be underdogs, but they will not be underestimated.
The second half got off to a slow start for Al-Nassr, but excitement rose when a significant substitution was made, with Joao Felix and Sadio Mane entering the fray for the final 20-30 minutes.
FC Goa came agonizingly close to equalizing when a clever lobbed pass bypassed the Al-Nassr defense and found Boris Singh Thangjam in a one-on-one with Bento. However, the right-back’s finish was thwarted by a crucial save and the Fatorda faithful were left in shock.
As the game approached the break, Al-Nassr’s attacking dominance waned, forcing them to make bold attempts from distance. Goa countered with promising play, including a blistering run by left-back Nemil whose cross was blocked by the Al-Nassr defence. The home side then earned three corners in a row, Borja Herrera even attempted an ambitious Olympico, but missed.
Al-Nassr had another chance to seal the win thanks to a great counter from Joao Felix and Sadio Mane, but a poor final ball squandered the opportunity. FC Goa’s hopes of a late comeback are dashed when David Timor is red-carded for a late challenge in the opposition’s defense and has a chance to equalise.
In the end, Al-Nassr held on for a hard-fought victory, but FC Goa’s spirited performance gave the Fatorda crowd much to cheer about.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
October 22, 2025
