ISL 2020-21: FC Goa through to playoffs after goalless draw vs Hyderabad

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:09 am

Alberto Noguera dribbles with the ball as FC Goa take on Hyderabad FC.
Alberto Noguera dribbles with the ball as FC Goa take on Hyderabad FC.
Faheem Hussain / Sportzpics for ISL

FC Goa booked their place in the Indian Super League (ISL) playoffs after a 0-0 draw vs Hyderabad FC on Sunday.

Neither side managed to create a clear chance in the first half, and the game didn't really come to life until the final quarter of an hour. Both sides saw a man sent off in the 87th minute when Lluís Sastre, who was substituted minutes earlier, was involved in an altercation with Goa's Alberto Noguera, when the latter was himself coming off. While Sastre was shown a straight red, Noguera received a second yellow.

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The first shot on target from either side didn't come until the second-half injury-time, when Dheeraj Singh was forced into a sharp save to deny Roland Alberg. A sharp last-ditch tackle from Iván González then ensured Hyderabad didn't get at the end of the rebound.

Dheeraj was called into action once again in the dying minutes, pulling off a spectacular save to tip the ball over from a mistimed defensive header from a Goa player.

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The draw helped Goa finish on 31 points, two behind third-placed NorthEast United FC and two ahead of Hyderabad. Goa will find out their playoffs opponent after Mumbai City FC's game against ATK Mohun Bagan later on Sunday.