Sivasakthi Narayanan added two more goals to his season's tally and Pablo Perez came on to score the third for the Blues as they ended the Gaurs' playoff race and confirmed Odisha FC's entry as the sixth and final team in the playoffs.
With 27 points from 19 matches, FC Goa are currently sitting in seventh position in the standings. They have an opportunity to take their points tally to 30 when facing Bengaluru, who have already qualified for the playoffs.
Even if Odisha FC drop all available points against Jamshedpur FC, beating Bengaluru FC will be no easy task for FC Goa. The Blues extended their winning streak in the ISL to seven games last week after they ended Mumbai City FC's 18-game unbeaten run in the ISL this season
Goals from Harry Sawyer and Ritwik Das handed the Red Miners their third win in four games and kept FC Goa alive in the playoff pursuit this season. Odisha FC came into the game needing just a point to seal qualification, but will now have to count on FC Goa to not win against Bengaluru FC o
The 2018-19 champions need a victory to have the possibility of finishing in the top four while a defeat would put their chances of doing so in serious jeopardy.
The defeat took FC Goa's playoff fate out of their own hands and they would now need to beat Bengaluru FC who are on a seven-match winning run on their own patch and hope other results go their way to sneak into the top six
The striker didn't leave a single stone unturned and marked his first game of 2023 with a stunning headed goal against his favourite opposition, Mumbai City FC.
The first half produced a great tactical battle from both teams, but the Blues slowly took charge of the proceedings in the second half. Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring for the Blues in the 57th minute with a free header off a corner kick.
Suni Chhetri opened the scoring for Grayson's side in the 57th minute from a close-range header from a corner. Javi Hernandez doubled the lead for the home team in the 70th minute.
In ending that prolific streak, the best ever in ISL history, the Blues also made a big move towards sealing a playoff spot with their seventh win in a row with Sunil Chhetri leading from the front.
Bengaluru FC will be looking to consolidate their place in the top six with a win against the shield winners Mumbai City FC. The Blues are in the fifth spot with 28 points in the ISL standings.