FC Goa experienced a tough outing in Riyadh, suffering a comprehensive 0-4 defeat against Saudi giants Al Nassr in their AFC Champions League Group D encounter. Al Nassr immediately took control of the match, displaying confident ball circulation and pinning FC Goa back. The opening goal arrived in the 35th minute via a beautifully executed free-kick by Abdulrahman Ghareeb, establishing Al Nassr’s advantage. FC Goa, undeterred, sought to create opportunities and showed composure when handling the ball. Post-interval, Al Nassr’s superior individual talent was on full display. Ghareeb scored his second goal, followed by clinical finishes from Mohammed Maran and João Felix, extending their lead significantly. FC Goa’s management deployed young Indian talents like Rabeeh and Ayush Chhetri to inject energy into the second half. While João Felix added a late goal for Al Nassr, FC Goa’s substitute Rabeeh nearly capitalized on a defensive error due to his aggressive high press. The score reflected Al Nassr’s dominance, but FC Goa’s spirit and commitment to attack against a world-class opponent remained. The team now prepares for the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 semi-finals, looking to translate the lessons from this AFC Champions League match into future success on home soil.
