Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 3 : Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza voiced his pleasure after securing a clinical 2-0 victory against FC Goa in the opening leg of the first semi-final in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
The Blues, who went winless in both of their league stage fixtures against the Gaurs this season, finally got the better of their opponents on home soil on Wednesday. A first-half own goal from Sandesh Jhingan and Edgar Mendez's precise finish in the second half were enough as the hosts demonstrated a spirited performance, registering a crucial 2-0 advantage ahead of the second leg in Goa.
According to the official website of ISL, with this win, Zaragoza has become just the third head coach in ISL history to win each of his first two games in the Playoffs after Simon Grayson and Petr Kratky. Moreover, it was his first win against Manolo Marquez in the league (D1 L2).
Zaragoza acknowledged FC Goa's collective strength but commended his players' fighting spirit and winning mentality behind this crucial victory.
"Before the game against Mumbai City FC, during those 10 days, in the training, the team showed this playoff mood, and you could see at that moment that we are confident," Zaragoza said in the post-match press conference, as quoted from the official website of ISL.
"The game against Mumbai City FC also gave us this mentality to say we need to enter the game like this because we know that FC Goa is one of the best teams in this league, and we needed to enter in the mood that we entered. Finally, I think that we deserved this win, and we could even score some more goals, but it's what it is," he added.
Zaragoza named an unchanged defence line for the game, as Bengaluru FC played with an all-Indian defense line led by captain Rahul Bheke. Under the leadership of experienced Bheke, the Blues formed a sturdy backline with Namgyal Bhutia, Chinglensana Singh, and Naorem Roshan Singh, resulting in keeping consecutive clean sheets in successive playoff games.
Bheke made 16 clearances against FC Goa, the most by any Bengaluru FC player in a single game in ISL history. Bhutia, who won the Player of the Match award, delivered a fantastic performance at the right full-back position, thwarting the Gaurs' smooth operation from the left flank.
The Spaniard was in full praise while talking about his defenders and their decisive performance in such demanding situations.
"The reality is that they are in an amazing, amazing moment. Bhutia today, Man of the Match, Roshan, and the two center-backs, they're very good," he shared.
"When you have people like this, then it allows you to play, to put one foreigner more up. I hope that they continue like this; that's the reality," he continued.
It's a no-brainer that FC Goa will do all in their power and fight tooth and nail to turn the result in their favor in Fatorda to secure an ISL final berth. Zaragoza anticipates a high-voltage match in the second leg as he urged his players to recover and prepare themselves for a cracking fight in Goa.
"We can only be focused. It's the only thing that we can be," he opined.
"It's not a moment to be happy. It's a moment, I say to the players; it's a moment to recover, and it's a moment to know that we are going to fight a lot in Goa because it will be a tough game there for sure," Zaragoza concluded.
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