FC Goa enter ISL semis after a 2-1 win over Chennaiyin FC

FC Goa sealed an ISL 2023-24 semifinal berth with a fighting 2-1 win over Chennaiyin FC in a nail-biting knockout contest here on Saturday.

Noah Sadaoui (36th) and Brandon Fernandes (45th) netted the goals for the Goans, while Lazar Cirkovic (45+4) registered his name on the scoresheet for Chennaiyin.

The Gaurs will square off against Mumbai City FC across two legs in their last-four clash, with the first match scheduled for April 24.

The match saw a frantic start from both teams, aiming to gain an early advantage and Sadaoui broke the deadlock in the 36th minute.

Sadaoui scored a goal with his left foot from the right side of the post to put FC Goa ahead in the contest.

He collected the ball, passed it on to Boris Singh beside him.

Boris played the ball to Brandon inside the box, before it went to Carl McHugh.

There was a tough tussle to win the challenge between both the sides but Noah picked it up and hammered it into the back of the net.

Goa doubled their lead in the 45th minute with a perfect strike by midfielder Fernandes from outside the box to the top right corner.

The away team pulled one back just before the half-time break when Cirkovic sent the ball into the back of the net after pouncing on a mistake of Goa's goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh.

There were several attempts from both teams to find the back of the net but all of them ended in futility.

In the first semifinal, Odisha FC will take on Mohun Bagan Super Giant in Bhubaneswar on April 23.