FC Goa reached the final of the 2015 Hero Indian Super League after beating Delhi Dynamos FC 3-0 in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Tuesday night. Strikes from Joffre and Rafael Coelho in the first half and a Dudu goal in the second were enough for Goa to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.

The hosts made their intentions clear from the word go. Romeo Fernandes whipped in a dangerous looking cross from the right inside the opening minute as the Gaurs put together their first attack of the game. His cross though was just beyond Goa’s attackers in the penalty box.

The first ten minutes saw an onslaught of attacks by Goa and in the 11th minute they opened their account after Joffre picked up the ball on the right flank and dribbled past John Arne Riise to get off a low shot on goal.

Goa should have made it 2-0 ten minutes later after Delhi’s keeper Antonio Doblas punched out a deflected effort from Romeo straight back at him. The 23-year-old, however, failed to keep his rebound on target much to the dismay of the Goan faithful.

Adil Nabi had Delhi’s first big chance of the game in the 26th minute when Sehnaj Singh’s attempted shot on goal found its way to Nabi in Goa’s penalty box. Nabi got his shot off on goal but failed to keep his effort on target.

Goa capitalised on the miss and scored from their next attack a minute later when a long ball over the top of Delhi’s backline fell favourably for Coelho. Coelho then gathered the ball and ran at Riise again before unleashing a right-footed strike that hit the back of the net to make it 2-0 for FC Goa.

Delhi could have pulled one back before half-time through a Florent Malouda strike. Only a brave block from FC Goa skipper Lucio kept things at 2-0 as Goa went in at the break leading 2-1 on aggregate.

Nabi had the first shot of the second period when he fired an effort at FC Goa’s goal from distance. Laxmikant Kattimani, however, was perfectly positioned in goal to save Nabi’s shot. Goa had their first shot of the half soon after, as Romeo forced Doblas into a stunning save. The remainder of the second half was mostly a cagey affair with both teams desperate not to give away another goal. Both sides defended valiantly but Delhi’s resistance was finally broken six minutes before normal time as they went in search of a goal to bring them back into match. It was a Joffre cross that found Romeo at the far post. The pacey winger then cut back the ball brilliantly for Dudu who made it 3-0 for the Gaurs from inside the six-yard box as the Fatorda Stadium erupted in celebration.

Delhi tried to make a late comeback into the game through efforts from Anas Edathodika and Gustavo dos Santos but FC Goa’s defenders held their own and led the Gaurs to their first final ever.

(Report and Picture Courtesy -- ISL Media Team)