The big story: FC Goa thrill in front of the home fans

Both FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC fielded young players in their last Indian Super League match this season on Thursday with the result already a foregone conclusion. The Gaurs had lost four times at home coming into the season, and it took only four minutes for Marco Materazzi’s side to take the lead in the game. After 40 minutes, four more goals were scored in the game.

Goa came out strongly in the second half and took the lead with strikes from Sahil Tavora and Rafael Coelho. John Arne Riise then equalised from the spot with three minutes left for full time. Deep into stoppage time, Tavora scored one of the goals of the Indian Super League, showing exquisite control to bring down a Sanjay Balmuchu pass, cutting in, and unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond Chennayin keeper Karanjit Singh to win 5-4.

Other top stories:

  1. In the wake of the plane crash, which killed 76 passengers including the Brazilian first-division side Chapecoence Real, former Brazilian star Ronaldinho and Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme have offered to come out of retirement to help the tragedy-hit side. Tributes continue to pour in from all quarters
  2. Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane penned a six-year contract, keeping him at his boyhood club till 2022. The deal is worth £32 million.
  3.  The police in England have revealed that 350 people have come forward to report child abuse in football, and have identified 10 suspects, reported The Guardian.
  4. Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla will miss out on atleast another three months of action after suffering an ankle injury. The Spaniard has not started for the Gunners since October. 
  5. Inter Milan legend Luisito Suarez stated that Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi had almost signed for the Nerrazzuri a decade ago. The Spaniard, who was one of stars of the 1960s, stated that the Argentine legend had signed a pre-contractual agreement with Inter, only for the deal to fall through.
  6. The All India Football Federation won the developing member association of the year award at the Asian Football Confederation Awards.