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With their loss to FC Goa at home today, Punjab FC are now out of contention for a playoff spot, as their dismal run of form continues.
ISL 2024-25: Punjab FC 0-1 FC Goa. (X)
A flustered Punjab FC would seal their unfortunate fate, knocking themselves out of contention for the ISL playoffs, as they slumped to a disappointing 0-1 loss to visitors FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.
Despite a poor start, where FC Goa won just one of their first six matches, they responded with a sensational 12-game unbeaten run, which lifted them up to second place in the league, a hefty 10 points behind Mohun Bagan SG, who have already secured the League Shield.
For Dilimperis’ PFC though, it’d been an ugly tale as of late, having secured only one win in their last 12 games, dropping to an abysmal 11th in the table, and leaving their playoff hopes up to fate.
The stakes were rather direct: win or be eliminated from playoff contention.
Clearly, there was a need for Punjab to come out with a sense of urgency if they were to compete and hope to keep their season alive. But the Shers seemingly misunderstood the assignment, opting to play impatiently and not urgently out the gate.
Dilimperis’s side looked disorganised and lost in transition (and translation) from kick-off, overcommitting to tackles (and hence, allowing Goa to find the easy outlet pass), and lacking any form of clinicality with their wayward passing.
Manuel Marquez’s Goa simply played to the weaknesses of their hosts, allowing the game to come to them (along with the over-enthusiastic PFC players) and simply dictating the pace with easy, fluent passes through the Shers’ ranks.
Borja Gonzalez ignited Goa’s initial toying of Punjab, with one menacing corner kick after the other, as the likes of Udanta, and McHugh forced saves from Muheet Shabir within the first ten minutes of the game. Yet, the Goan side would fail to capitalise.
Punjab would finally find their marbles after the initial period, slowing the tempo down and playing with more patience. But they would lack any sort of threat on the attacking end, with crosses from Lhungdim finding no meaningful receivers at the end.
To make matters worse, the Shers lost their stalwart centre-back Novoselec to an ankle sprain, forcing Dilimperis to make his first substitution, one that would unfortunately bring him more misery.
Goa would capitalise on the switch and finally reap their reward right at the brink of halftime as McHugh found the lucky deflection off the newly substituted Pramveer to find the back of the net, adding insult to injury and sending a disparaged PFC back to the locker room trailing 0-1 at halftime.
Staging a comeback was going to be a mean feat for the Shers, who had conceded 68 percent of their goals this season in the same – the most by any team in the ISL.
To the hosts’ credit, Punjab would come out with a renewed energy, seemingly more composed and measured upfront, as they would trouble the Jhingan-led backline of Goa consistently. But, Goa would remain rock-solid on all fronts, continuing their steadfast showing in the first half.
In a bid to add more firepower in search of their goal, Dilimperis brought on three substitutes – Giakoumakis, Ninthoi, and Leon Augustine – overthrowing his entire frontline to rejuvenate the attack.
Yet nothing would come out of the same, with Punjab consistently lacking support play through the middle of the pitch, rendering a good chunk of their surges ahead pointless.
A flurry of solo runs and Hail Mary long-range attempts from Giakoumakis and Lhungdim would yield no outcome, as the visitors held onto their slender lead till the very end and took home the three points.
With their loss today, Punjab, who sit at 11th in the table with 24 points and 2 matches left in their campaign, are officially ruled out of contention for the playoffs, while Goa stands tall at second.