“Gaur of the Match” Jofre Mateu González, with two assists and five attempted shots in FC Goa’s 3-1 win over NorthEast United FC in Guwahati on Thursday, believes that his side has a very good fighting spirit.
After Francis Dadzie put the Highlanders ahead in the 12th minute in FC Goa’s first ISL away game of the season, it was Jofre’s presence of mind to spot the run of Jonatan Lucca that allowed the Brazilian to draw level in the 27th minute.
“The team played very good. Receiving a goal in the beginning did not stop us from playing very well and fighting back into the match,” illuminated the Spaniard after Thursday’s comeback victory.
It was a comeback not only in the match but also from Sunday’s 0-4 defeat to Chennaiyin FC which Brazilian legend Zico explained as his career’s biggest defeat.
“We showed that we can win away. If we work together, we have very good players to show that, and we have to play in the same way we played today (Thursday),” Jofre explained.
One of Jofre’s five attempted shots fell kindly for Reinaldo da Cruz Oliveira to put FC Goa in the lead in the 30th minute.
Other than his craftsmanship in midfield and the chances he created for his teammates, Jofre could have signed off on the evening with a cheeky chip over rival goalkeeper but it was left for Gennaro Bracigliano to the read the same on the occasion.
The “Hero of the Match” award winner will have no regrets however, as his 67th minute replacement in Mandar Rao Dessai doubled the lead for the Gaurs just three minutes after being introduced on the pitch.
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