ISL 2022-23: Happy with the three points but we have things to improve on – FC Goa’s Carlos Pena

FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena was delighted after his team defeated East Bengal FC by 2-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday to grab their first points in the ninth season of the ongoing Hero Indian Super League 2022-23.

Pena admitted that his team has things that they need to improve ahead of their second match of the tournament despite winning the first game. It was a nail-biting contest as Edu Bedia scored the winner for the Gaurs in the stoppage time.

Brandon Fernandes had earlier opened the scoring for the visitors but East Bengal was able to bounce back as Cleiton Silva scored through a penalty in the 64th minute. However, Edu Bedia was able to grab three crucial points for his team by scoring in the dying seconds of the match.

Asked if FC Goa won’t have scored a winner in the end, Carlos Pena said in the post-match press conference, “Of course, I’m not going to lie, I’m very happy with the three points. We know we have things to improve on despite the win, and with a draw, the analysis would be the same. Now it’s time to analyse what we did well, what we need to improve on, and move on to the next game.”

Meanwhile, FC Goa was brilliant in the first half but they weren’t at their absolute best in the second half before the players pick themselves up at the fag end of the match.

Pena said while analyzing both halves of his team, “I absolutely agree. In the first (half), we started with a great personality, we tried to control the game with the ball, by playing in the opposition’s half and creating chances. And because of that we didn’t suffer. We didn’t want to concede chances in our own half because we know that East Bengal FC is good in transitions and counter-attacks. And in the first half we controlled these things very well.”

He added, “In the second half, they put more dynamic players into their team and we suffered a bit. We started losing some balls and (East Bengal FC were) creating lots of problems. But during the latter stages, we started passing forward and were playing in the half of East Bengal FC. Luckily, we could score and get the three points.”

FC Goa will look to continue the good show and improve on the areas which they were lacking against East Bengal FC. The Gaurs will play their second match against Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai on 21st October.