Herrera Brace Fires Goa to Semis: 3-0 Kashi Rout.

Herrera Brace Fires Goa to Semis: 3-0 Kashi Rout.

Super Cup 2025: FC Goa Crush Inter Kashi 3–0 to Storm into Semi-Finals.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda – Wednesday, 30 October 2025 Attendance: 14,200 By Rahul Nair, The Goan Chronicle.

Preamble: A Statement of Intent

                    The AIFF Super Cup has long been a proving ground for ambition. For FC Goa, under Manolo Márquez, it has become a platform for dominance.

            On a balmy Wednesday night in Fatorda, the Gaurs didn’t just beat Inter Kashi – they dismantled them. A 3–0 victory, sealed within 41 minutes, confirmed Goa’s place in the semi-finals with a game to spare. Top of Group B. Unbeaten. Unscored upon.

Inter Kashi, the I-League champions making their Super Cup debut, arrived with hope and a point from their 2–2 draw with NorthEast United. They left with a lesson: the gap between the ISL’s elite and the new challengers is not just in talent, but in tempo, cohesion, and ruthlessness.

From the first whistle, Goa played like a team that had already won the group. High press. Quick transitions. Relentless intensity. Inter Kashi, for all their spirit, were chasing shadows.

The Teams

FC Goa (4-2-3-1): Albino Gomes; Seriton Fernandes, Odei Onaindia, Sandesh Jhingan, Jay Gupta; Carl McHugh (c), Raynier Fernandes; Noah Sadaoui, Borja Herrera, Nemil; Dejan Drazic. Subs: Hrithik Tiwari (GK), Aiban Dohling, Muhammad Nemil, Udanta Singh, Brison Fernandes, Armando Sadiku, Saviour Gama.

Inter Kashi FC (4-3-3): Shubham Roy; Raj Mahato, Anil Chawan, Bijoy Das, Sandeep Singh; Aritra Das, Phijam Singh, Lenang Konyak; Jordan Lamela, Matija Babovic, Carlos Alberto. Subs: Arindam Bhattacharya (GK), Tejas Krishna, Edmund Lalrindika, Novin Gurung, Ashray Bhardwaj, Sumeet Passi, Haobam Tomba Singh.

Referee: Ranjit Bakshi Assistant Referees: Samar Pal, Asit Kumar Sarkar Fourth Official: Jehrin PS VAR: Not in use
First Half: Herrera’s Masterclass
3rd Minute – GOAL! FC Goa 1–0 Inter Kashi (Drazic)

It took just 180 seconds for the tone to be set.

Inter Kashi, under pressure from Goa’s front three, attempted a throw-in deep in their half. Centre-back Bijoy Das slipped on the slick surface. Nemil, the 20-year-old winger, pounced. One touch to control, one touch to square it across the six-yard box. Dejan Drazic, unmarked, side-footed home with composure beyond his 29 years.

The Fatorda roared. Márquez punched the air. Inter Kashi were rattled.

The Press That Broke Them

Goa’s high line wasn’t just positional – it was predatory. McHugh and Raynier Fernandes hunted in pairs, cutting passing lanes. Sadaoui and Nemil pinned the full-backs. Every Kashi attempt to build from the back was suffocated.

In the 12th minute, Sadaoui intercepted a loose pass from Phijam Singh, surged forward, and curled a left-footed effort inches over. Shubham Roy was beaten. The bar rattled. A warning.

Inter Kashi’s response? A hopeful long ball to Matija Babovic, easily mopped up by Sandesh Jhingan. The Serbian striker, so dangerous against NorthEast, was a passenger.

37th Minute – GOAL! FC Goa 2–0 Inter Kashi (Herrera)

Then came the moment of magic.

Borja Herrera, drifting between the lines, received from Raynier just outside the box. One feint left Aritra Das flat-footed. One touch inside. A low, skidding drive across Shubham into the bottom corner. 2–0.

The Spaniard wheeled away, arms outstretched, as Fatorda chanted his name. It was his 7th goal involvement in 5 matches under Márquez.
41st Minute – GOAL! FC Goa 3–0 Inter Kashi (Herrera)

Four minutes later, the rout was complete.

Jay Gupta, overlapping down the left, whipped in a cross with pace. Borja Herrera, arriving late like a ghost, glanced a header beyond Shubham’s despairing dive. The ball kissed the far post and nestled in.

3–0. Game over.

The half-time stats told the story:
Possession: Goa 68% – Kashi 32%
Shots on target: Goa 8 – Kashi 1
Pass accuracy: Goa 91% – Kashi 74%
Duels won: Goa 34 – Kashi 19
Half-Time: Márquez’s Quiet Satisfaction

In the tunnel, Márquez allowed himself a rare smile. His team talk was brief: “Control. Don’t chase more goals. Kill the game.”

Inter Kashi’s coach, Antonio López Habas, was apoplectic. His side had been outthought, outfought, outclassed. The second half, he knew, was about pride.
Second Half: Professionalism Personified

Inter Kashi emerged with intent. Phijam Singh tested Albino Gomes from range in the 48th minute – a decent strike, comfortably held. Carlos Alberto forced a corner in the 53rd. A flicker of hope.

But Goa were in cruise control.

Márquez rotated:
60’ Udanta Singh → Nemil (rested)
65’ Brison Fernandes → Noah Sadaoui (preserving legs)
72’ Muhammad Hammad → Raynier Fernandes (injury precaution)

The tempo never dropped. Udanta nearly made it 4–0 in the 68th minute, skinning Raj Mahato and forcing a fingertip save from Shubham. Brison, with his first touch, drew a foul on the edge of the box – Borja’s free-kick clipped the wall.

Inter Kashi’s best chance came in the 79th minute. Substitute Edmund Lalrindika’s cross found Babovic, but Jhingan’s header clear was imperious. Albino Gomes, a spectator for much of the night, ended with a clean sheet and zero saves of note.

The final 10 minutes were procedural. Goa stroked the ball. Kashi chased. The whistle blew.

Final Score: FC Goa 3–0 Inter Kashi
Player Ratings

FC Goa
Albino Gomes 6.5 – Barely tested. Commanding.
Seriton Fernandes 7.5 – Solid defensively, composed in possession.
Odei Onaindia 8 – A rock. Won everything.
Sandesh Jhingan 8.5 – Dominant in the air and on the ground.
Jay Gupta 8 – Assist, overlaps, defensive nous.
Carl McHugh 8 – Broke play, set tempo.
Raynier Fernandes 8 – Progressive passes, interceptions.
Noah Sadaoui 7.5 – Stretched play, nearly scored.
Borja Herrera 9.5 – Player of the Match. Two goals, 89% passing, 5 recoveries.
Nemil 8 – Assist, relentless pressing.

Dejan Drazic 7.5 – Clinical opener. Subs: Udanta 7, Brison 7, Hammad 6.5.

Inter Kashi
Shubham Roy 6 – Three good saves, but beaten three times.
Raj Mahato 5 – Overrun.
Anil Chawan 4.5 – Slip for first goal.
Bijoy Das 4 – Error-prone.
Sandeep Singh 5 – Struggled with Sadaoui.
Aritra Das 5.5 – Tried, but overwhelmed.
Phijam Singh 5 – One shot, little else.
Lenang Konyak 5 – Anonymous.
Carlos Alberto 5.5 – Flashes, no end product.
Babovic 5 – Isolated.
Lamela 5 – Subbed early. Subs: Lalrindika 6, Tomba 5.5.
Post-Match Reaction

Manolo Márquez (FC Goa):

“A professional performance. We scored early, controlled the game, and never let them breathe. Borja was excellent, but this was a team effort. We’re in the semi-finals – now we focus on NorthEast.”

Antonio López Habas (Inter Kashi):

“We made mistakes and were punished. Goa are a top team – fast, strong, intelligent. We learn from this. The Super Cup is a process for us.”

Borja Herrera (Player of the Match):

“Happy with the goals, but happier with the clean sheet. We pressed as a unit. This is how we play under Manolo – with intensity, with heart.”

Tactical Breakdown

AspectFC GoaInter KashiPressing High, coordinated, turnover-creating Reactive, easily bypassed
Build-Up Patient, progressive through midfield Direct, long balls, intercepted
Transitions Lightning quick, wingers exploited space Slow, predictable, no overloads
Defensive Structure Compact, aggressive, no gaps Disorganised, exposed on flanks
Set-Pieces Threatening (Herrera’s header) None taken

Key Stats:
Goa won 14 duels in Kashi’s third.
7 of Goa’s 12 shots came from turnovers.
Kashi completed just 12 passes in Goa’s half.
Group B Standings (After Matchday 2)

TeamPWDLGFGAPtsFC Goa 2 2 0 0 5 0 6
NorthEast United 2 0 2 0 4 4 2
Jamshedpur FC 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Inter Kashi 2 0 1 1 2 5 1

Goa qualify with one game to spare.

What’s Next?

FC Goa:
vs NorthEast United – Saturday, 1 November 2025, 7:30 PM IST (A potential semi-final preview. Márquez may rotate, but pride is at stake.)

Inter Kashi:
vs Jamshedpur FC – Saturday, 1 November 2025, 5:00 PM IST (A chance to salvage pride and experience.)

Semi-Final Draw: Monday, 3 November 2025
Final Word

This was not a contest. It was a clinic.

FC Goa are not just in the semi-finals – they are arriving as favourites. Two games. Five goals scored. Zero conceded. Márquez’s blend of ISL experience, tactical discipline, and attacking flair is clicking into gear.

For Inter Kashi, the Super Cup dream ends early. But the education begins.

Player of the Match: Borja Herrera (FC Goa) Next Match: FC Goa vs NorthEast United – 1 Nov, 7:30 PM.