In a season full of heartbreaks and hard luck, FC Goa needed a redemption arc.
After coming heartbreakingly close in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season, finishing second on the table despite matching last season’s Shield-winning points tally, and then exiting in the playoffs in the most gut-wrenching fashion, it felt like the football gods owed them something. And the dream is now fulfilled.
The Kalinga Super Cup, in its shiny new knockout format, was not for the faint-hearted. One bad day and you were sent packing. But under the weight of expectations and with the bitter taste of a near-miss in the ISL still fresh, FC Goa chose not to crumble. They beat Jamshedpur FC in the final to be crowned winners of the Kalinga Super Cup on Saturday, providing a fitting end to a memorable season.
Their campaign kicked off in familiar, comfortable fashion with a 3-0 win over Gokulam Kerala FC in the Round of 16. It was the kind of no-fuss win with Iker Guarrotxena’s hat-trick proving to be the highlight. Job done, clean sheet in the bag and the Gaurs were up and running.
Then came the quarter-final clash against Punjab FC. And boy, did this one have drama. Trailing for most of the match, the Gaurs looked like they were staring down at another so close, yet so far moment. But Two late goals turned despair into delirium and sent the Gaurs into the semi-finals with a comeback that was about guts and guile.
Awaiting them next were Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Or rather, a youthful version of the Kolkata club, with fresh legs and zero fear. FC Goa had opened the scoring, only to see the Mariners bounce back within minutes. Old wounds threatened to reopen. But FC Goa did what seasoned sides do best: they settled, they adapted and then they struck. The 3-1 win was nothing short of a statement, although having got the better of the Mariners.
The stage for the final was set with Jamshedpur FC in their way. The same Jamshedpur FC who’d done the double over them in the league.
From the first whistle, FC Goa looked like team not playing with pressure but with purpose. Once Borja Herrera opened the scoring, they never looked back. They bossed the midfield, moved the ball with flair and defended with all their heart. It was a sweet victory, one that they deserved after hardly putting a foot wrong.
History made
FC Goa did not only secure the Cup, but they also won their way back into Asia. For the first time since their historic 2020-21 campaign in the AFC Champions League, FC Goa are back on the continental stage, this time in the newly-launched AFC Champions League 2. It may not be the main stage but it’s still Asia and it gives them a chance to compete at the one of the biggest stages for an Indian club.
And as the champagne popped and confetti rained down in Bhubaneswar, FC Goa showed they are done knocking on the door. They’re kicking it down.
