It was a night of what-ifs for FC Goa (FCG).
On a humid Wednesday evening at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, the players would have been left ruing the multitude of opportunities they wasted in a hard-fought 0-2 defeat against Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC in the Gaurs’ first match of the AFC Champions League Two group D.
Even though Goa played well on the night, it quickly found out that being just good isn’t enough to succeed at the upper echelons of continental football; you need to be ruthless. The match was always going to be tough for FCG. India is ranked 11th in the West Region in the AFC Club Competitions Ranking, while Iraq is ranked 6th. The gulf in continental pedigree is also apparent; the Iraqi club has over 100 intercontinental appearances, compared to FCG’s eighth.
Indian fans might remember Al Zawraa on their shores back when East Bengal hammered it 6-2 in their Asian Cup Winners Cup first round match in 1993 — 20 years before FCG was founded.
Both teams appeared unsettled, likely due to their domestic seasons not yet being in full swing. The Iraqi side arrived in India five days before the match to get used to the heat and humidity.
Last month, Goa made most of its chances in a 2-1 playoff victory over Al Seeb of Oman to qualify for the group stage, but here, looked clueless in front of goal.
With only two out of 20 shots on target, Manolo Marquez’s team failed to make Al Zawraa custodian Jalal Hassan even break a sweat. The Spaniard, after the match, also lamented the missed opportunities.
READ | FC Goa vs Al Zawraa HIGHLIGHTS
“I feel that we played not in every moment, but generally we played a good game. I don’t like the statistics too much, but now I’ve seen it, and the possession is 50-50 exactly. The only thing is that there are 20 shots, but only two are on target. And they had fewer shots than us, but more on target.”
With defensive stalwart Sandesh Jhingan unavailable due to injury, the former India coach fielded his full complement of six foreigners in a 4-4-2 formation with Borja Herrera at the tip of the midfield diamond and David Timor at the base. This tactical setup worked well, and FCG’s midfield dominated the opposition for long periods with fluid passing and attacking intent.
Al Zawraa, which is in the middle of a rebuild with 12 new summer arrivals, showed signs of rustiness. But it was its big-stage experience, and professional know-how which made the difference. Whenever it created clear chances, its players tested FCG custodian Hritwik Tiwari.
After a lively start, the first half became a tactical battle. Al Zawraa dominated possession but struggled to break down a compact FCG defence. For the host, everything good going forward came from the right flank. The combination of Udanta Singh, Borja, Iker Guarrotxena, and right-back Boris Singh Thangjam were superb. Boris, in particular, stood out with his overlapping runs, dribbles and quality crosses.
FC Goa’s Udanta Singh linked up well on the right side with Borja Herrera, Iker Guarrotxena and Boris Singh Thangjam.
| Photo Credit:
AFC
FC Goa’s Udanta Singh linked up well on the right side with Borja Herrera, Iker Guarrotxena and Boris Singh Thangjam.
| Photo Credit:
AFC
As the clock ticked towards halftime, it seemed the teams would head into the break on level terms. But football, as is often the case, has a flair for the dramatic. A minute before the whistle, Zawraa’s Reziq Bani Hani pounced on a deflection to slot the ball home, giving the Iraqi side a crucial lead and silencing the home crowd.
It seemed like a confidence-sapping goal for FCG, coming at the most inopportune moment. The Iraqi outfit was inches away from doubling its lead inside the opening minute of the second half. Banihani drove from the left flank into the box, and his cutback was accidentally steered towards goal by Nim Dorjee before Tiwari clawed the ball away on the goal line.
After that, the Gaurs pushed forward with renewed vigour, creating multiple chances and forcing the visiting side’s defence to work overtime. Substitute Ayush Chhetri tested the opposition goalkeeper with a soaring effort, and Javier Siverio had a back-flick attempt saved.
The Gaurs’ relentless pressure was led by Borja and substitute Brison Fernandes, who both created pockets of space and opportunities. However, a lack of precision in the final third proved to be their undoing. The finishing touch and the final pass seemed to elude them.
As the match entered its final stages, FCG continued to chase the game, leaving itself vulnerable to the counter-attack. The Al Zawraa players, sensing their opponents’ desperation, resorted to a more defensive and time-wasting approach, much to the frustration of the host players and fans. The Iraqi side committed a total of 14 fouls in the game, nine of which came in the second essay.
And in a cruel twist of fate, moments later, Al Zawraa sealed the victory. A low strike from the edge of the box by Nizar Al Rashdan, squeezing through a forest of legs, beat the FCG goalkeeper Tiwari to make it 2-0, putting the game to bed and dashing any hopes of a late comeback.
After the match, the FCG defender Aakash Sangwan said, “We played better football than our expectations; we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
While the result was a bitter pill to swallow for Goa, the defeat was a learning experience — a harsh but necessary lesson on the unforgiving nature of continental football. The team will now regroup and focus on its next challenge against Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol.
The journey in the AFC Champions League Two has just begun, and despite this stumble, the Gaurs have proven they are ready to fight and make their mark on the Asian stage.
Published on Sep 18, 2025
