ISL 2022-23: Our mistakes cost us the game: FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena

FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena admitted that their mistakes cost them the game against Mumbai City FC. The Islanders registered a convincing 4-1 win against the Gaurs at the Mumbai Football Arena on Thursday.

Pereyra Diaz scored a brace for the home team while strikes from Lallianzuala Chhangte and Alberto Noguera ensured comfortable three points for the side. Iker Guarrotxena scored for FC Goa in the 22nd minute to equalize after Diaz had scored for the Islanders in the 16th minute.

However, Mumbai City was too good for the Gaurs on the night. In fact, FC Goa took a total of six shots on target but could only convert one. This was FC Goa’s third loss in the last four matches and they will want to turn the corner in the upcoming matches.

Sharing his thoughts on the loss, Carlos Pena said, “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.”

The Spaniard also revealed why he didn’t start with Noah Sadaoui as he said, “Because I decided to start with Alvaro (Vazquez). We thought that the best option at the beginning of the match was to play Alvaro and with some minutes to play Noah (Sadaoui) would help us but the plan, of course, you can see didn’t work.”

Pena admitted that two mistakes of his team led to the two goals and it was a major reason for their loss.

Pena added, “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 realize what happened, recover, and prepare for the next game in the best conditions.”

Pena disapproved that they lacked hunger in the second half of the game as they could not create many chances.

He concluded, “A lack of hunger, I disagree. I think we lost because in the second half we conceded two early goals, we committed two big mistakes and that was the reason. I don’t feel the team was lacking hunger. We came here with the hunger and passion to win. We knew before the game that we were able to win here, but we need to be on our best level and that 10 minutes cost us the game.”

FC Goa will next take on Odisha FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa on 10th December.