FC Goa’s spirited fight was not enough to overcome Saudi giants Al-Nassr, who clinched a 2–1 victory in their AFC Champions League 2 group-stage clash on Tuesday night. Despite the defeat, the evening belonged to local hero Brison Fernandes, who etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian player to score in the newly revamped AFC Champions League 2.
Al-Nassr, even without star forward Cristiano Ronaldo, showcased their quality early on. Brazilian youngster Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a powerful right-footed strike that Sandesh Jhingan couldn’t block, setting the tone for the visitors. Goa, struggling to settle into rhythm, soon found themselves trailing by two as Haroune Camara doubled the advantage in the 27th minute, sneaking a shot through a crowded defence and past goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari.
Goa coach Manolo Marquez responded quickly, introducing Brison in the 25th minute for the injured Javier Siverio. The move paid off just before halftime. In the 41st minute, Borja Herrera threaded a precise through ball that Brison latched onto, beating his marker before slotting home with a composed right-footed finish to make it 2–1. The Fatorda crowd erupted as Goa halved the deficit before the break.
The second half saw Al-Nassr control possession but fail to extend their lead, thanks to Goa’s resilient defensive display led by Jhingan and the impressive Tiwari. In the 66th minute, a wave of substitutions electrified the crowd as FC Goa made three changes and Al-Nassr brought on two, including stars Sadio Mane and Joao Felix, for the final half hour.
Just moments later, Goa came agonisingly close to scoring when Boris made a run behind Al-Nassr’s defence, only to mishit a one-on-one chance, with Bento producing a crucial save to keep the visitors in the lead. The game, however, ended on a sour note for the Indian side when David Timor received a straight red card in stoppage time for a rash challenge, reducing Goa to 10 men.
After the match, Brison reflected on his goal and Goa’s spirited performance. “I’m very happy for myself and for the team for the effort we put in,” he said. “They capitalised on their early chances, but we’ll take this momentum forward. There’s always room for improvement.”
Despite the loss, FC Goa’s display — highlighted by Brison’s milestone goal — gave Indian football fans plenty to cheer about against one of Asia’s most formidable clubs.
Final Score: FC Goa 1–2 Al-Nassr
Goa’s Goal: Brison Fernandes (41’)
Al-Nassr Goals: Angelo Gabriel (10’), Haroune Camara (27’)
Red Card: David Timor (90+3’)
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