Loss against Mumbai hurts a lot but there’s another chance: Brandon Fernandes

Panaji: FC Goa didn’t know what hit them in the first-leg semifinal at home against Mumbai City FC when the visitors scored three goals in stoppage time to register a stunning 3-2 win at Fatorda last week.
The Goa players thought they had the match in their bag at 2-0 till the 90th minute, until Mumbai did the unthinkable. Captain Brandon Fernandes watched helplessly from the bench.Nobody could really make sense of what had transpired on the field with players needing a reality check from coach Manolo Marquez, who told them in the dressing room that there are 90 minutes still left to be played.
“You can lose in football, but the way we lost hurts a lot,” Brandon told TOI during the pre-match media interaction on Saturday. “We played a really good game, for 90 minutes, but in the end, the loss was very disappointing for all of us. The good thing is that we have another chance. If we had lost (like this) against Chennaiyin in the knockout, it would have been over. I look at the positives. We have another chance, another 90 minutes, and have to give everything. The boys are wounded, hurt. We have to go there and fight for every ball, every minute.”
Goa need to win the second leg semifinal in Mumbai on Monday by two or more goals. If it’s a solitary goal win in regulation time, the match will go into extra time and then penalties.
Manolo’s plan looked good enough for Goa to script their first win in 11 games against Mumbai. Goals from Boris Singh and Brandon in either half brought joy to a record crowd at Fatorda, only for the hosts to collapse in the end.
Asked to explain the three goals in six minutes, Brandon paused, and then suggested lapses in concentration towards the closing stages of the match.
“It’s very difficult to explain the situation. When the other team gets one goal, they are all motivated and they push (for another goal). My feeling is that we lacked a little bit of focus, there were lapses in concentration and Mumbai capitalised,” said Brandon.
The Goa captain has been in red-hot form this season, scoring three goals in as many matches for the first time in the ISL. Two of those strikes have come from outside the box, one a stunning effort that had class written all over it.
“I hope to score in the next game too,” said Brandon. “I want to help the team in whatever way I can. I am more satisfied when the team is winning. When we lost, like against Mumbai, the goals mean nothing to me.”
Goa now travel to Mumbai with plenty of expectations. Hurt at the loss, particularly with a record crowd cheering at Fatorda, Brandon said the players are eager to make amends.
“I just want to thank the fans for all the support they have provided us. They came out in large numbers. We are sorry that they had to go home disappointed. We have another chance. We go to Mumbai and will give everything, and when we come back, hopefully there will be a smile on the faces of our fans,” said Brandon.