ACL2: FC Goa keep the faith ahead of group opener against Iraq’s Al Zawraa

Panaji: There is so much attention on Al-Nassr FC’s visit to India that it’s easy to forget there are other home games for FC Goa in group D of the AFC Champions League Two.The much-anticipated clash against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr won’t happen until late next month.

For now, Goa have a fresh challenge on their hands as they host Al Zawraa in the opener at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday at 7.15pm.“It’s beautiful to play against the best players in the world, but to be honest I'm thinking if we can make it to the next round,” Spanish forward Iker Guarrotxena told TOI. When Goa last featured in Asian competition, they were clubbed with elite teams in the AFC Champions League 2020-21.

The six group games were played at home, behind closed doors during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the hosts finished a respectable third, with three points, all from draws.To make it to the next stage, as Guarrotxena hopes, wouldn’t be easy, given that Goa are the lowest-ranked side in the group with little experience of playing at this level.“Now we can play and enjoy six very good games,” said coach Manolo Marquez. “We will have possibilities (to score and win) in every game.

Obviously, when you have more experience, you will enter the field with more calm, but there will be possibilities to win.” Goa made it to the group stage of ACL2 after edging past Al Seeb 2–1 in last month’s preliminary round at home. It’s a game that showcased the team’s resilient character and made other teams take note. The hosts will feel handicapped by the absence of captain and braveheart Sandesh Jhingan, who is nursing a cheekbone fracture sustained on national duty.

He will be replaced by a player who Manolo said was “ISL champion with me at Hyderabad and has made it to five consecutive playoffs.” It’s Nim Dorjee.Like the playoff win against Al Seeb, Manolo will use all six foreign players as control in midfield, compact distances out of possession, and set-piece discipline will be central to Goa’s plan against a physically imposing opposition.“We are happy, satisfied, and obviously the training sessions have been better with the game approaching.

The motivation is high. I think we have even improved in some areas (after the win against Al Seeb). The preparation is better with a good friendly against Mohun Bagan. I feel the team is arriving for this game in a good condition,” said the experienced Spanish coach.Al Zawraa are playing their first competitive match this season, and with a dozen-odd players – and new coach at the helm – the visitors from Iraq might be guarded at the start."We have lot of respect for FC Goa, a team that beat Al Seeb in the playoffs. They are a good team from Oman with national team players,” said coach Abdul-Ghani Shahad, who has managed the Iraq national team.Al Zawraa finished 10 points behind Al-Shorta in the Iraqi Stars League, and are now into their sixth continental campaign. The Baghdad club carries significant international pedigree, boasting up to eight Iraq internationals, including national team captain and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.