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Goa FC recovered from an early blow to beat NorthEast United FC 3-1 in a third round Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, in Guwahati on Thursday.
The hosts opened the scoring through Francis Dadzie (12th minute) before Jonathan Lucca (28th), Reinaldo (30th) and Mandar Rao Desai (70th) struck for the visitors.
John Abraham-owned NorthEast United remain at the bottom of the eight-team event while Goa FC are now at the second spot with seven points from four matches.
Zico made as many as five changes to the Goan team, which had lost 4-0 to Chennaiyin FC with
Laxmikant Katiimani, CS Sabeeth, Jonatan Lucca, Bikramjit Singh and Luciano Sabrosa making their way into the first team.
NorthEast United’s defence maintained a high line as Reinaldo came twice to being through on ball but was flagged offside inside the first 10 minutes.
The home team took the lead when Raju Yumnam’s cross from the left found Sanju Pradhan on the right, who rounded off Debabrata Roy and crossed for Francis Dadzie at the far post who headed home with ease.
Eight minutes later, Pradhan had another chance as he breezed past Roy on the right and crossed for Dadzie which he couldn’t connect under pressure from Gregory Arnolin.
In the 27th minute, Silas and Kamara combined with the latter finding Pradhan in plenty of space. The winger’s cross was too close to Kattimani.
FC Goa replied in the 28th minute when Sabeeth ran down the left and found Jofre on the edge of the box. The Spaniard laid it back for Jonatan Lucca who curled it inside with his right foot.
Two minutes later, Reinaldo doubled the scoreline. Leo Moura found Jofre in space who cut inside and his shot took a deflection off Hengbart. Reinaldo under pressure from Ralte slid it in to make it 2-1.
Image: FC Goa's offre Mateu Gonzalez (right) out runs NorthEast United FC's Francis Dadzie to win possession during their Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati, on Thursday
Photograph: Deepak Malik/ISL