ISL: FC Goa ready for Punjab’s big push FC Goa have never lost to Punjab FC in their history, but the encounters have always been tightly contested. Over six meetings, Punjab has taken the lead in three of them, only for Goa to overturn the deficit. A memorable match saw a disallowed goal by Luka Majcen, while another ended in a 3-3 draw in Delhi. A dramatic late comeback in the 2025 Super Cup, where Borja Herrera equalized and Mohammed Yasir scored in added time, highlighted Goa’s resilience. Coach Manolo Marquez admitted the upcoming clash against Punjab would be the most challenging of the five matches in the ISL. “Punjab have the same coach, a very good one, and most of the Indian players have continued,” Manolo said during a pre-match press conference. He noted that conversations with his players during the national camp revealed their high training intensity, which translates into their game approach. Goa’s unbeaten run in four matches so far has been built on solid defensive performances, with only one goal conceded in their opener against Inter Kashi. The backline, anchored by captain Sandesh Jhingan and Pol Moreno, has been nearly flawless, but the lack of goal-scoring from domestic players remains a concern. Three of Goa’s four goals have come from foreign players, including two penalties scored by Dejan Drazic. Moreno also contributed with a crucial goal against Mohammedan Sporting, converting a corner kick. Manolo acknowledged the struggles of Indian forwards, citing missed chances by Ishan Pandita, Boris Singh, Udanta Singh, Raynier Fernandes, and Brison. “There have been clear opportunities, but bad luck has hindered results,” he said. Despite this, he praised the progress of his Indian players, emphasizing the importance of giving them more playing time.#punjab_fc #fc_goa #manolo_marquez #island_super_league #sandesh_jhingan
