FC Goa has announced the departure of head coach Carlos Pena. The club made the announcement on Sunday through its social media accounts. After an illustrious playing career, Pena rejoined the club earlier this season as the head coach.
His team failed to make the playoffs in his lone season in charge, finishing seventh in the Hero ISL 2022–23 season. In the 2023 Hero Super Cup, the Gaurs went on to place second in Group C. When asked about the departure, FC Goa Director of Football Ravi Puskur said, “On behalf of everyone at FC Goa, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Carlos Pena and his coaching staff, Gorka Azkorra, Joel Dones, and Eduard Carrera for the integrity and sincerity with which they went about doing their job,” as quoted by ISL.
FC Goa failed to achieve success in the Super Cup as they finished their season with a 1-0 win over ATK Mohun Bagan, thanks to Fares Arnaout’s first goal in club colours. In a match that produced very little in terms of goalmouth action, the Syrian international pounced on an error by the Mariner’s keeper Vishal Kaith, heading from close range following a corner after Kaith had fumbled on the gather.
The game opened up only late on with Arnaout’s goal, followed up by a shot on goal by Manvir Singh. Arshdeep, though, was up to the mark to keep his second clean sheet intact. Noah Sadaoui and Makan Chothe carved out an opportunity in the final moments of the game but failed to capitalise on it.
FC Goa ended the Goa leg of the Reliance Foundation Development League in style as a Saish Gaonkar hat-trick powered the young Gaurs to a 5-1 win over Velsao. Lemba Singh and Robinson Singh were also on target for the Gaurs to round off the win.
The victory, their sixth in eight games, sees the Gaurs finish unbeaten and on top of the Goa leg with 20 points from their eight games. Velsao, who also sealed their qualification with a draw, finished 2nd with 17 points to their name.