With the Super Cup final set for Saturday, watching both FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC battle it out will be interesting to watch – the former will aim to become the first team to win the Super Cup twice while Jamshedpur FC will hope for a historic maiden title.
Having faced each other in 14 matches in the Indian Super League, it remains to be seen if former champions Goa will add another win to their kitty after having lifted the title in 2019 to end a four-year lull, or whether Jamshedpur emerge victorious in their first-ever appearance in a tournament final in their eight-year history. The winners at the Kalinga Stadium will also secure qualification to the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two Preliminary round.
“For us, it’s very important because it would be the first time that we qualify for an Asian competition, so we’ll try to give our best,” said Jamshedpur head coach, Khalid Jamil, on the eve of the final. His FC Goa counterpart, Manolo Marquez, added, “When you have this opportunity to qualify for Asia, obviously you have to be very motivated. FC Goa already played in the Champions League four years ago. Jamshedpur never did. But both teams would want to make it to this competition.”
The final will be the fourth Super Cup meeting between the two teams, making it the joint-most-played fixture in the competition’s history. Previously, FC Goa won two thrilling quarter-final clashes in 2018 (5-1) and 2019 (4-3), while Jamshedpur won 5-3 in the 2023 group stage. In the current ISL season, however, the ‘Men of Steel’ in the Jamshedpur team will have another opportunity to secure a spot on the continental stage.
Defensively inconsistent during the ISL season, where they conceded 46 goals, Jamshedpur have been rock-solid in the Super Cup, going three games without conceding. They beat Hyderabad FC 2-0, edged past NorthEast United on penalties, and secured a 1-0 semi-final win over Mumbai City FC. FC Goa have also looked dominant, defeating Gokulam Kerala 3-0, Punjab FC 2-1 and overcoming Mohun Bagan SG 3-1 in the last four.
While Marquez agrees that there are no easy games, for young Jamshedpur forward Nikhil Barla, the occasion carries personal significance. “It’s a great feeling. I joined the academy in 2018, and now I’m playing in the final. It’s a proud moment for me and my family.”
Unlike the earlier rounds where tied matches went straight to penalties, the final will include 30 minutes of extra time if needed. Márquez, who won the 2021-22 ISL title with Hyderabad on penalties, is prepared, saying, “There’s always a possibility for penalties. I don’t agree that it’s a lottery. If there’s a good goalkeeper and a tired player, you have to stay calm and show your quality.”
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