FC Goa relied on the poaching skills of their proven goalscorer Chiki to put it across Inter Kashi FC 2-1 for their first win in the Indian Super League (ISL) at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune, on Sunday.It was Franchu who gave Goa the lead in the 34th minute but the visitors were jolted when Inter Kashi captain Sumit Passi struck on the counter to draw level in the 51st minute. It was then left to Chiki to strike in the 66th minute to ensure Goa register their first win after two home draws against lower-ranked sides.The win took Goa to sixth in the standings with five points from three games, while Inter Kashi, playing with an all-Indian squad, are rooted at the foot at the table with a solitary point from four matches.Goa were the better side and expectedly took home all points. The Super Cup champions, however, were found wanting upfront. When Inter Kashi pushed more men forward towards the closing stages, the visitors appeared under pressure but did not come anywhere close to conceding the equaliser.Equally frustrating for Goa was the red card shown to coach Gouramangi Singh, who was sent off for kicking the away ball towards the closing stages of the match.The teams came into this game looking for their first win. Goa, with their four foreign players, were always more likely to succeed. True to form, it was Argentinian winger Franchu who scored after some nice work from Isak Ralte, who controlled a pass from Tomba Singh, beat his marker Pratik Chowdhary with a sleek move, and then laid the ball for his teammate to calmly push it home.Isak then had a chance to score on his own but ended up with a skier. Alex Vallejo’s attempt too sailed straight into the hands of the goalkeeper as Goa trooped out for the break with a one-goal advantage.In the opening half, Inter Kashi didn’t have much to show. Thoi Singh’s long-range effort that saw goalkeeper Bob Jackson backtracking was the closest they got to goal.Kashi though fought their way back with Rosenberg Gabriel sprinting to keep the ball in play near the corner area and lob it inside the danger zone. It seemed a hopeful ball but Passi darted in from nowhere to convert.After Nemil and captain Sandesh Jhingan went close, Goa were ahead for the second time in the game just after the hour mark. Defender Alex Zalaya’s ball was first controlled by Franchu, who sent it through for Nemil. The winger passed it for Chiki inside the box, and the Spanish striker did the rest, slotting it into the net from close range.
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