ISL 2022-23: We couldn’t reach the objective of being in the playoffs: FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena

FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena was disappointed after they suffered a 3-1 loss against Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on Thursday. If the Gaurs had managed a win against the Blues, they would have qualified for the playoff stages as they had a better goal difference than Odisha FC.

But the visitors could not grab their opportunity when it mattered the most. Meanwhile, Sivasakthi Narayanan gave the lead to the home team in the sixth minute but Iker Guarrotxena found the equalizer in the 33rd minute.

However, Narayanan completed his brace in the 76th minute whereas Perez scored in the 81st minute to help Bengaluru FC earn three crucial points.

Pena was happy with the team’s first-half performance but they could not come up with a collective show in the second half, which led to their downfall.

“The first half was what we expected. They are very strong set pieces. They are very strong in transitions. We conceded the goal very early. It was tough but we came back. I think we started playing good and creating chances, playing in the opponent’s half and in the second half we knew what could happen. If we stayed compact and didn’t concede, we would have our options, till the last minute or so,” Pena said in the post-match press conference.

On the other hand, this was the eighth consecutive win for Bengaluru as Simon Grayson’s team was at their absolute best in the second leg of the season. The Spaniard congratulated Bengaluru FC for their fine show.

“Congratulations to Bengaluru FC, because in the second part of the season, they have played amazingly. They got some amazing results. It’s over for us, so it’s time to analyze. It has not been an easy season for us. I said it many times that we came from a season where FC Goa finished in the ninth position. But it is not a reason to be happy (finishing in seventh position), because we couldn’t reach the objective of being in the playoffs. It was a relative season. We are disappointed. We will analyse the system, the mistakes we have made, the good things that we have done and move on for the next tournament,” he concluded.

FC Goa will now look to bounce back stronger in the Hero Super Cup.