“Our mistakes cost us the game,” says FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena after 4-1 defeat against Mumbai City FC

FC Goa were completely dominated by neighbours Mumbai City FC in their latest Indian Super League clash. The Islanders who have been sensational this season were in the groove as Pereyra Diaz scored a brace while Alberto Noguera and Lillainzuala Chhangte scored a goal each to make it 4-1. Iker Guarrotxena also scored but it sadly ended up as a consolation for the Gaurs.

Following the match, FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena was left disappointed. He really thought that his team could fight and at least take a point home but Des Buckingham’s men had other ideas as they extended their lead at the top of the ISL points table whereas Goa fell to sixth spot with their fourth defeat of the season.

Pena shared how his team fared really well in the first half and were competitive against their opponents. However the early part of the second half caused all problems as the Gaurs made one mistake after another and things went south. However Pena still backed his players and highlighted it was a few minutes play that changed a very equal game.

“I think the team played a very decent first half but we started the second half in a bad mood and made mistakes against a team like Mumbai City FC that can cause you trouble and it was a problem. We had a talk in the dressing room to start the second half in the same way, to keep on trying, keep attacking because we did all that in the first half. It was an equal game with chances for both teams but in the second half, they punished us a lot in the first 10 minutes. After that, we couldn’t come back,” Pena stated after the defeat against Mumbai City FC.

The Spaniard felt that it was a game of good dynamics and Mumbai City gave everything that they could. Speaking on Mumbai City FC’s performance he said,”I feel the same as before, it was a good game, with good dynamics and good players. Today they won fairly.”

Pena highlighted how big mistakes in the second half affected the result of the game. However he feels that it is time for the team to recover from this loss and prepare for the next game.

“Against Mumbai City FC you can concede goals without making mistakes. You can see in the first half but in the second half, there were two big mistakes that cost us two goals so it’s time to realise what happened, recover, and prepare for the next game in the best conditions,” Pena concluded.

FC Goa will face Odisha FC in their next match at home on 10th December and considering the form that the Juggernauts are in it will be another tough clash for the Gaurs.