FC Goa held its nerve in a gripping penalty shootout to defeat East Bengal 6-5 and retain the AIFF Super Cup on Sunday, securing another berth in next season’s AFC Champions League 2. The tense final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium offered 120 minutes of grit, strategy, and missed chances, but no goals, before the holders finally prevailed in sudden death.
For much of the match, the home crowd watched anxiously as both sides cancelled each other out. East Bengal, unfazed by the favourites’ pedigree, delivered a tactically disciplined performance despite head coach Oscar Bruzon’s absence from the touchline. His game plan—designed to suffocate FC Goa’s rhythm—worked seamlessly for the first 75 minutes.
The contest was cagey and scrappy, with chances few and far between. FC Goa suffered a blow when both right-side defenders, Ronney Willson and Boris Singh—already on a booking—were forced off. Midfield anchor Borja Herrera found himself stifled throughout, double-teamed by Mohammad Rashid and the back line. His tough night culminated in a costly miss during the shootout.
East Bengal’s Anwar Ali shone early, dominating the defensive half with sharp reading of the game and timely interventions. His most notable moment came when he cut out a dangerous cross from Akash Sangwan with impeccable timing. The Kolkata side frequently targeted FC Goa’s right flank, using diagonal switches to unleash Bipin Singh against Boris. By the 25-minute mark, Boris had been withdrawn after struggling to contain the winger.
Despite their strong structure, East Bengal failed to convert golden opportunities. Hiroshi Ibusuki twice missed clear sights of goal—first bending wide after beating the offside trap, then heading straight at Hrithik Tiwari from close range. Naorem Mahesh also saw a tame effort pushed away, keeping the game deadlocked.
FC Goa finally burst into life after the second-half water break. Brison rattled the post, Dejan Drazic headed wide from point-blank range, and even a long-range hack from Pol Moreno forced Prabhsukhan Gill into tipping the ball onto the bar. But despite the late surge, the match drifted into extra time, where fatigue overshadowed clarity.
The decisive moment arrived in the shootout. After Herrera struck the crossbar and Hamid fired over, sudden death saw East Bengal’s PV Vishnu blaze his effort high. Substitute Sahil Tavora then calmly slotted home, sealing FC Goa’s triumph and sending the home fans into raptures.
In a battle defined by fine margins, FC Goa’s composure ensured the Super Cup stayed right where it was.
