FC Goa’s season to remember: goals, glory, and a double delight
Some seasons are about steady progress. Others are about bouncing back. But every now and then, a season comes along that simply clicks. For FC Goa, 2024-25 was that season.
It had a bit of everything – heartbreaks, comeback stories, big wins, statement performances, silverware… and a return to the continental stage. It wasn’t just one of their best seasons on paper – it was a ride the fans won’t forget any time soon.
Impressive numbers
Let’s start with the raw stats. 35 matches. 24 wins. Just 5 losses. A win rate of nearly 69%.
That’s not just consistency – that’s dominance.
The Gaurs scored 68 goals – almost two per game – and conceded just 36, finishing with a cool +32 goal difference. They were never an easy side to beat either, going unbeaten in 85.71% of their matches. Whether it was league games, cup ties, or penalty shootouts, they brought the fight every time.
FC Goa also broke new ground, scoring in a jaw-dropping 28 consecutive games – a Club record. Their 12-match unbeaten run was the longest in the ISL this season, matched only by one other team, Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
Trophy #1: Home glory at the Bandodkar Trophy
The first high point came in familiar surroundings – the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy.
The Gaurs turned on the style in the group stage itself:
- 5-0 against Sporting Clube de Goa
- 1-0 over A-League Men side Brisbane Roar FC
- 2-1 vs Dempo SC
In the knockouts, they kept it tight – a 1-0 win over Argentina’s Defensa y Justicia, before holding their nerve to beat Odisha FC on penalties after a breathless 3-3 draw in the final. Trophy number one was in the bag.
ISL 2024-25: From false start to record finish
The ISL campaign didn’t start with fireworks. In fact, it looked a bit dicey early on – just one win in their first six matches. But then came the spark.
FC Goa stitched together 12 games unbeaten, climbed the table steadily, and finished with their best-ever points tally (48) in a single league season. Their final ISL stats:
- 14 wins
- 6 draws
- 4 losses
- 43 goals scored, 27 conceded
- 2nd place finish in the table
Their attack was sharp (4th-best in the league), their defence tighter still (2nd-best), and their 23-match scoring streak in the league made ISL history.
In the semis, a 2-0 first-leg loss to Bengaluru FC proved costly, even though they pulled off a 2-1 win at home in the return leg. They bowed out on aggregate, but the signs of a team coming of age were everywhere.
Trophy #2: Super Cup sweep and the Road to Asia
Even with their ISL campaign not ending the way they would have wanted, the Men in Orange didn’t stay down for long.
In the Kalinga Super Cup, Goa were untouchable:
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- 3-0 vs Gokulam Kerala (Round-of-16)
- 2-1 vs Punjab FC, a comeback win in the quarter-final
- 3-1 in the semi-final vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- 3-0 in the final vs Jamshedpur FC
Four games. Four wins. 11 goals scored, just 2 conceded – and another trophy added to the cabinet.
More importantly, the Super Cup win secured qualification to the AFC Champions League 2 Playoffs, marking the Gaurs’ long-awaited return to Asian competition. The Club will now aim to qualify for the group stages of Asia’s second-tier club competition – a significant moment, four years on from their historic AFC Champions League debut in 2021 (now rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite).
Star turns and a new Local Hero
As with any great campaign, collective brilliance lit the way – with a handful of names standing out.
- Iker Guarrotxena made a dream return, finishing with 11 goals and 3 assists.
- Borja Herrera delivered in clutch moments, including the Super Cup final, ending with 10 goals and 4 assists.
- Sandesh Jhingan was a rock at the back with 34 recoveries, 64 duels won and 107 clearances while Hrithik Tiwari between the posts enjoyed a breakthrough league campaign with 52 saves and a stellar 74% save rate.
But perhaps the biggest revelation was Brison Fernandes.
The 24-year-old Goan midfielder stepped up in a big way, scoring 8 goals and assisting twice across the ISL and Super Cup. His energy, sharp instincts and fearlessness were impossible to ignore – not just by the Club’s supporters. At season’s end, Brison was crowned the ISL and AIFF Emerging Player of the Season, becoming the first FC Goa player ever to win both awards.
What comes next?
Two trophies, a return to Asia, a record-setting league run and a new generation of players taking charge – under the able guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez who has truly transformed the team since his arrival nearly two years ago, FC Goa’s 2024-25 season wasn’t just successful, it was special.
They will have the belief that they’ve built something solid. Something exciting. And most importantly, something sustainable.
Now, the next challenge awaits – proving themselves on the Asian stage, and coming back for even more in the ISL. But if this season was any sign, they’re ready for it.
