FC Goa held off a spirited fightback from Fortis FC to clinch a 2-1 win in their AFC Challenge League Group C tie on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Indian side, who lost their opener, will face Kuwait\u2019s Qadsia SC next on Friday, with Fortis entertaining FC Regar TadAZ of Tajikistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FC Goa showed aggression from the start with Muhammed Nemil firing wide following a swift counter-attack before they opened the scoring in the sixth minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Udanta Singh floated a delightful cross into the box to an unmarked Jorge Ortiz, whose header was deflected into the back of the net by Ananta Tamang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ortiz continued to threaten, shooting wide a minute later before forcing Fortis goalkeeper Sujan Perera into a save in the 14th minute, with Sandesh Jhingan pulling his effort narrowly off the left post from the ensuing corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bangladesh side threatened in the 36th minute when Pa Omar Babou\u2019s long-range effort was kept out by Lara Sharma, before Essa Jallow\u2019s header from Babou\u2019s cross was blocked, leaving FC Goa with a slim advantage at the interval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goa stepped up their efforts to double their advantage after the restart, with Francisco Feuillassier setting up Jhingan for a header, only for Perera to rush off his line and clear the danger in the 52nd minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perera then came to Fortis\u2019 rescue again in the 61st minute, keeping out Malsawmsanga KC\u2019s long-range effort as they continued to absorb the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortis, however, remained composed and were rewarded with the equaliser in the 78th minute when Stephen Chukwude sent a delightful through ball down the middle for Rafayel Tudu, who shrugged off his marker before slotting past Sharma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An unfazed Goa upped their tempo in response and regained the lead in the 85th minute, with Feuillassier cutting through the middle before slipping a through pass to Chiki, who lifted his finish over Perera into the top left corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was more woe for Fortis, who had Essa Jallow sent off in the seventh minute of added time after the midfielder picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Udanta Singh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Qadsia (Kuw) bt Regar-TadAz (Tjk) 1-0<\/p>\n\n\n\n AlIttihad Ahli of Aleppo (Syr) bt Ahal (Tkm) 5-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n Istiklol (Tjk) bt Al Arabi (Kuw) 2-0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Goa (Ind) bt Fortis (Ban) 2-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Ansar (Lbn) bt Paro (Bhu) 2-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n Homs Al Fidaa (Syr) bt Nejmeh (Lbn) 2-1<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FC Goa held off a spirited fightback from Fortis FC to clinch a 2-1 win in their AFC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[430],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t