FC Goa’s Durand Cup Journey Ends with 1-1 Draw Against Shillong Lajong
FC Goa’s campaign in the Durand Cup 2024 came to a heartbreaking end as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Shillong Lajong FC in their final group stage match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong on Saturday.
Despite a valiant effort by the young Gaurs, the draw was not enough to secure a spot in the quarter-finals, with Lajong progressing on goal difference.
Match Highlights
The match saw Shillong Lajong take the lead in the 30th minute when Marcos Rudwere Silva found the back of the net. However, FC Goa responded almost immediately, with Devendra Murgaokar equalizing just three minutes later. In doing so, Murgaokar etched his name in the history books, becoming his Club’s all-time top-scorer in the Durand Cup with his eighth goal in the tournament since 2021.
Both teams fought hard in the second half, but neither could find the decisive goal. The draw meant that both FC Goa and Shillong Lajong finished the group stage with seven points each, having secured two wins and a draw. However, Lajong’s superior goal difference saw them advance to the next round, leaving the Gaurs to exit the competition despite finishing second in Group F since they are not among the top two best-ranked second-placed teams in the league.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment, the FC Goa Developmental Team, led by head coach Israil Gurung, can hold their heads high after a commendable performance throughout the tournament. With victories over Rangdajied United and Tribhuwan Army FC from Nepal, the team showed promise and resilience. Looking ahead, the young Gaurs’ focus will now shift towards the Goa Professional League, the state’s top-division league, and the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), among other tournaments.
Doubts Revealed
FC Goa -: FC Goa is a football (soccer) team from Goa, a state in India. They play in the Indian Super League (ISL).
Durand Cup -: The Durand Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in India, named after its founder, Mortimer Durand.
Shillong Lajong -: Shillong Lajong is a football club based in Shillong, a city in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, India.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium -: The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is a sports stadium in Shillong, named after India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Devendra Murgaokar -: Devendra Murgaokar is a football player who plays for FC Goa. He scored a goal in the match mentioned.
goal difference -: Goal difference is a way to rank teams in football. It is calculated by subtracting the number of goals a team has conceded from the number of goals they have scored.
quarter-finals -: Quarter-finals are the round in a tournament where eight teams compete to advance to the semi-finals.
Developmental Team -: A Developmental Team is a group of younger or less experienced players who are being trained to improve their skills.
Israil Gurung -: Israil Gurung is a football coach and former player who is currently leading FC Goa’s Developmental Team.
Goa Professional League -: The Goa Professional League is a football league in Goa where local teams compete.
Reliance Foundation Development League -: The Reliance Foundation Development League is a football league in India aimed at developing young football talent.
