It turned out to be a tough outing for Mohun Bagan SG goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh as his side suffered a 3-1 defeat to FC Goa in the Semi-Final of the Kalinga Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium. After Brison Fernandes opened the scoring for Goa with a header, Suhail Bhat brought Mohun Bagan back on level terms. But two second-half goals from FC Goa sealed the fate of the match and left Bagan with no chance of a comeback.
Much of the blame from fans for the second-half collapse was directed at Dheeraj. The first blow came from a defensive lapse that allowed Dejan Dražić space inside the box. Dheeraj was forced to come off his line, but ended up bringing Dražić down, resulting in a penalty. Iker Guarrotxena calmly slotted it home to restore Goa’s lead. The third goal was an absolute screamer — a curling corner from Borja Herrera that flew directly into the top right corner, leaving Dheeraj rooted.
Despite the result, it’s important to remember that mistakes are part of the game — especially for goalkeepers. And for Dheeraj, who has spent the entire ISL season on the bench, the lack of game time certainly takes a toll. Any goalkeeper will tell you how months on the sidelines can affect your sharpness and confidence.
Dheeraj is no stranger to pressure. He has been India’s No. 1 in the U-17 FIFA World Cup, has featured in the AFC Champions League, and has played in several ISL seasons. One poor performance does not define a player of his calibre.
His teammates, coaching staff, and even FC Goa — his former team — stood by him after the match. As the final whistle blew, Dheeraj sank to his knees, visibly emotional and taking the blame on himself. What followed was a heartwarming show of sportsmanship. Goa’s players and coaching staff walked over, one by one, to console him. Sandesh Jhingan and head coach Manolo Marquez both embraced him in a moment that truly defined football’s spirit.
Mohun Bagan’s interim head coach Bastab Roy also defended his goalkeeper, refusing to let one bad day overshadow Dheeraj’s contribution.
“Dheeraj was great in the first game — he really saved us. I won’t judge him based on just one performance,” said Bastab Roy.
Even Nuno Reis, the only foreigner in Mohun Bagan’s squad for the Super Cup, ran to Dheeraj after the penalty incident, encouraging him to move on and stay in the game.
“He was a bit down after the match, thinking he could have done better. But anyone can make mistakes — even I can. We support him and are proud of what we achieved in this Super Cup,” shared Reis.
Goalkeeping is perhaps the most unforgiving position in football. You can be the hero one day and face harsh criticism the next. But true character is shown not just in moments of glory, but in how one bounces back from adversity.
So, be like Nuno Reis, Bastab Roy, and the FC Goa players — support Dheeraj Singh. He is the same Dheeraj who carried a nation’s hopes on his shoulders in the U-17 World Cup. There’s no doubt — he can rise again.
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