On a humid Goan evening under the floodlights of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, FC Goa produced one of their most spirited performances on the continental stage yet came away empty-handed.
The Indian Super League side suffered a 1–2 defeat to Saudi giants Al Nassr in their AFC Champions League Two Group D clash, extending their losing streak to three matches. Despite the result, the performance offered pride, promise, and a first historic milestone as Brison Fernandes became the first Indian player to score in the revamped AFC Champions League Two.
Few gave Goa a chance before kick-off. Facing an Al Nassr side backed by Saudi wealth and international pedigree even without their star forward Cristiano Ronaldo the odds seemed stacked against the Gaurs. Yet, what unfolded was a contest far closer than expected, marked by tactical discipline, homegrown grit, and a sense of self-belief that has too often eluded Indian clubs in Asia.
Coach Manolo Marquez, known for his emphasis on structure and courage, set his side up with a compact 4-2-3-1 shape that pressed high early on and relied on quick transitions down the flanks. For the first 10 minutes, Goa looked confident until Al Nassr reminded everyone why they remain a continental powerhouse. In the 10th minute, Angelo Gabriel the Brazilian prodigy on loan from Chelsea opened the scoring for Al Nassr. A slick passing move sliced through Goa’s midfield, and Gabriel curled in a low finish past Arshdeep Singh to silence the crowd.
Seventeen minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage. Haroune Camara, the Saudi international striker, pounced on a loose clearance inside the box and slotted home to make it 2–0. For a brief spell, Al Nassr’s technical superiority and composure looked set to overwhelm the Indian outfit.
Yet, instead of crumbling, Goa fought back.
Brison Fernandes: A Goan Story for the Ages
Just before halftime, Brison Fernandes, a 23-year-old midfielder born and raised in Goa, gave his side hope with a moment of brilliance. In the 41st minute, a loose ball broke to him at the edge of the box, and Brison — calm and fearless struck a low drive into the corner to beat the Al Nassr keeper.
The stadium erupted. In that moment, Brison etched his name in history:
•2016: Joined FC Goa’s U18 setup.
•2025: Scored FC Goa’s first goal in the AFC Champions League Two, becoming the first Indian ever to net in the competition’s new format.
For a player who has steadily climbed through the club’s youth ranks, it was a proud, poetic moment one that embodied the very essence of FC Goa’s philosophy: building from within.
What stood out most in the performance wasn’t just the goal it was the Indian contingent’s sheer determination. Despite missing foreign defensive anchors and fielding an unorthodox backline with Boris Singh at right-back, Aakash Sangwan at left-back, and Udanta Singh pushing high as a wide forward, Goa’s local players showed tactical intelligence beyond their years. In fact, their positional discipline often outshone some of their foreign teammates. As one fan put it bluntly online: “FC Goa’s Indian players are currently better than their foreigners which isn’t ideal, but it says everything about their fight.”
From Arshdeep’s quick reflex saves to Saviour Gama’s tireless overlapping runs, the homegrown energy carried Goa through difficult phases. The way they countered Al Nassr’s high offside trap and stayed compact without the ball spoke volumes about the work being done under Marquez on the training pitch.
The final moments, however, brought frustration. In stoppage time, David Timor one of the team’s senior-most players was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Talisca, reducing Goa to ten men. It was an unnecessary lapse in a match where discipline had been their greatest strength.
Still, even with a man down, Goa held firm till the final whistle, denying Al Nassr a third goal. The Saudi side left Fatorda with three points, but the hosts walked away with something equally valuable belief.
It’s easy to read the scoreline 1–2, zero points after three games and call it another disappointing night for Indian football. But to those who watched, the story was richer. FC Goa, on a limited budget, fielded a team that stood toe-to-toe with one of Asia’s elite clubs for large spells. In a tournament where Indian clubs often suffer heavy defeats, a competitive performance like this matters. It sends a message to Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and every ISL side that dreams of continental football that preparation, not payroll, defines results.
FC Goa now have a brief domestic interlude with three Super Cup group-stage matches before traveling to Riyadh for the return leg against Al Nassr. While qualification from Group D looks improbable, the focus will now shift to consolidating lessons learned and continuing to build a core capable of competing regularly at this level. The 2–1 defeat may sting, but it’s a loss that carries pride a performance that tells a story of courage, progress, and the promise of a club determined to bridge the gap between Indian football and Asia’s elite.
As the lights dimmed in Fatorda, Brison Fernandes walked off the pitch with the match ball under his arm a Goan lad who had just scored India’s first goal in the AFC Champions League Two. And while the scoreboard favored Al Nassr, for FC Goa, the night was a quiet victory of spirit over circumstance.
