FC Goa Vs FC Istiklol Highlights, AFC Champions League Two: FCG 1-2 IST; Gaurs End Campaign With Six Straight Losses

Greetings and welcome, everyone. FC Goa are set to sign off from the AFC Champions League Two tonight after their Group D game against FC Istiklol, who are still in with a chance to enter the round of 16. Stay with us for the build-up and live updates.

The match kicks off at 9:30pm IST. The FC Goa vs FC Istiklol, AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 match will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

A number of frontline FC Goa players are missing this match due to varied reasons. David Timor is out with a five-match ban following his red card offence during the game against Al-Nassr, while Borja Herrera was shown yellow cards in two separate games and Ayush Chhetri suspended for being sent off against Al-Zawraa. Skipper Sandesh Jhingan and Ronney Wilson are out injured, and Javier Siverio has left the club for a switch to Cyprus.

Here is FC Goa's line-up on Christmas Eve for what could be their last game in quite some time:

Cristiano Ronaldo is starting in tonight's concurrent AFC Champions League Two game between Al-Nassr and Al-Zawraa. The Saudi side are already guaranteed the top spot in the group with five straight wins, while Iraqi club Al-Zawraa are second with nine points but need at least a draw to seal a round of 16 berth.

Play gets underway in Fatorda. FC Goa kicking from left to right and FC Istiklol in the opposite direction in the first half. The mood is understandably sombre, given the state of Indian football and ISL currently, but the Gaurs would no doubt want to give their fans some cheer amid the gloom.

FC Goa take the lead in the eighth minute! It is midfielder Dejan Drazic who cuts in from the left flank before unleashing a superbly placed shot that soars into the Istiklol net. The Gaurs are pumped and so are their fans.

Though Istiklol have conceded an early goal, they would be happy to learn that Al-Nassr have already drilled in three against Al-Zawraa in the concurrent Group D encounter. A victory for Istiklol would keep them in contention for the round of 16, provided they can top Al-Zawraa on goal difference.

The first half draws to a quiet close with FC Goa leading by a slender 1-0 margin. The Gaurs have done well to stay ahead in the match and need more of the same in the second half.

The players return from the lemon break and the second half kicks off. FC Goa now attacking from right to left and Istiklol, the other way.

Istiklol have gone from a one-goal deficit to a one-goal lead in the space of three minutes. They first find the equaliser they were desperate for, via Paul Komolafe. A defensive error from FC Goa then follows, leading a penalty which Amirbek Juraboev converts in the 56th minute with ease. The Gaurs' hopes of netting their first points of the campaign suffer a rude jolt.

Istiklol are down to 10 men! Sodikdzhon Kurbonov is shown the yellow card in the 70th minute and then again in the 74th to be sent off. FC Goa have a genuine opportunity to capitalize and seize control of the match again.

The referee blows the final whistle after four minutes of stoppage time. FC Goa fail to make the most of a numerical advantage, and the scoreline stays at 2-1 in Istiklol's favour. This means the Gaurs bow out without a single point after six matches, while the Tajikistan-based club is also eliminated from ACL 2, owing to an inferior goal difference than Al-Zawraa.