Latest news with #Guarrotxena
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Borja, Iker set to stay with FC Goa for another year
Borja Herrera (left) and Iker Guarrotxena impressed FC Goa with their performances all through the season Panaji: FC Goa have started building their squad for next season with Borja Herrera and Iker Guarrotxena among the two foreign players the club is set to retain. Borja and Guarrotxena were out of contracts at the end of last season. The two Spanish players impressed the club with their performances all through the season and have now been rewarded with contract extensions. You Can Also Check: Goa AQI | Weather in Goa | Bank Holidays in Goa | Public Holidays in Goa 'Goa have agreed deals with both Borja and Iker,' a source told TOI on Tuesday. 'There was some hesitancy due to the prevalent situation in Indian football, but regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League (ISL), these two players were always going to be a part of the squad. They know the club, the league and the conditions in India. It wasn't a difficult decision.' Borja and Guarrotxena were important members of Manolo Marquez's squad last season. Besides striker Armando Sadiku in the early stages of the league, the coach relied heavily on the two players to get the goals, both in the ISL and Super Cup, which Goa won to qualify for continental championships for the first time since 2020. Borja had six goals and four assists in the ISL last season with his hat-trick against his former club, East Bengal, the highlight. He started in 16 of the 22 games that he featured in the league. The Spanish midfielder's big goal contribution though came in the Super Cup when his brilliant brace slayed Jamshedpur FC in the final. Borja also had a significant role to play in Goa's Bandodkar Memorial Trophy triumph earlier in the season. Nursing a long-term injury, Guarrotxena missed the early part of the season but his importance to Goa cannot be understated. Just like Borja, he had 10-goal contributions in the ISL, scoring seven. The Spaniard – now into his second stint at the club – made 21 appearances overall and accumulated 1,411 minutes of playing time. This season's ISL was expected to kick off on Sept 14, as per the calendar approved by the AIFF League Committee last month. However, there is now growing suspense over the future of the league after several club owners were told by FSDL that the league will not kick off, unless there's clarity on the Master Rights Agreement (MRA). FSDL, a joint venture between Reliance and Star which runs the league, are commercial partners of AIFF, with whom they signed a 15-year MRA in 2010. The agreement ends in December this year. Several meetings have been held between FSDL and AIFF over renewal of the agreement. Rather than an all-cash deal that gave the marketing partners rights to all federation properties, they have now suggested formation of a new holding company that governs, operates, commercialises and funds ISL, with clubs (60%, equal across all clubs), FSDL (26%) and AIFF (14%) as the shareholders.
News18
30-04-2025
- Sport
- News18
Kalinga Super Cup: FC Goa Seal Finals Berth With Win Over Mohun Bagan SG
Strikes from Brison Fernandes, Guarrotxena, and Herrera sealed a comfortable victory for Manolo Marquez's Gaurs over Bastab Roy's young guns. FC Goa breezed into the Kalinga Super Cup summit clash with a crushing 3-1 win over Mohun Bagan SG, riding on second-half goals from Iker Guarrotxena and Borja Herrera on Wednesday. The Gaurs, champions in 2019, will face the winners of the clash between Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC in Saturday's final. Goals from Brison Fernandes, Guarrotxena, and Herrera sealed a comfortable victory for Manolo Marquez's side over Bastab Roy's young guns. In a blistering start, Goa constantly pressured Mohun Bagan's defence on the back foot, their high pressing and high-speed game leaving the Mariners' midfield constantly out of position and disjointed. To add to that, Goa also brought unpredictability to their set-piece routines, and in the 20th minute, Fernandes capitalised on one to score the opener. From an improvised corner routine, Herrera curled a perfect cross into the danger zone, for Brison to slightly glance into the far corner. Goa's lead didn't last too long, and Mohun Bagan were level within two minutes. Ashique Kuruniyan picked up a pass on the byline and, with a devastating turn of pace and skill, left the marking defender Boris Singh in his wake before unleashing a low fizzing cross into the six-yard area. Suhail Bhat merely had to tap it in to create a carbon copy of his quarter-final goal against Kerala Blasters. The Gaurs came out with more energy, desire, and verve in the second half, and within a minute, Brison's driving midfield run and pass split the midfield, delivering a perfect opportunity for Dejan Drazic on the left side of the box. The Serbian pulled his shot wide. Mohun Bagan's defence had gone absent, and it portended things to come. In the 50th, while running to a long ball in the same channel, an unmarked Drazic was brought down by a reckless Dheeraj Singh challenge. The referee duly pointed to the spot, and Guarrotxena made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to score. Dheeraj's evening got worse seven minutes later, when he was badly caught under a Herrera corner, which flew over him and straight into the net. The Spaniard had threatened constantly with his curling corners and on this occasion found the perfect blend of curl and flight to outwit the goalkeeper. The Mariners looked out of it, and yet they had a chance to reduce the deficit and create a fight when Salahudheen ran clear from a Nuno Reis long ball, controlled it, went around the goalkeeper, and found himself facing an open net. He took a touch too many and pulled the trigger too late, allowing Goa's scrambling defence to issue a heroic block on the line. (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) First Published:
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Super Cup: FC Goa start on the front foot with Iker hat-trick against Gokulam Kerala
FC Goa dominated from start to finish as Manolo Marquez's strong side coasted toan easy win at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, on Monday Panaji: FC Goa kickstarted their Super Cup campaign on a winning note with Iker Guarrotxena scoring a hat-trick in the 3-0 win against Gokulam Kerala FC at the Kalinga Stadium on Monday. In a clash between the second-placed team in the top-tier Indian Super League ( ISL ) and the fourth-placed team in I-League, Goa were the favourites to sail through and they ensured it was smooth sailing from start to finish. Guarrotxena (23' minute penalty, 35', 71') netted a superb hat-trick, with two goals in the first half and a third after the break. From the outset, Goa controlled possession, dictated the tempo, and created multiple openings. In contrast, Gokulam Kerala struggled to find rhythm or match the pace and organisation of their opponents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Stunning Women of All Time Paperela Undo The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when Dejan Drazic was fouled inside the box by Salam Ranjan Singh, prompting the referee to point at the spot. Guarrotxena stepped up and sent Shibinraj Kunniyil the wrong way to give Goa the lead. The second goal followed just 12 minutes later. Aakash Sangwan surged down the left flank and delivered a precise cross into the danger zone, where Guarrotxena timed his run to perfection and slotted home with ease, doubling the advantage before the interval. Gokulam Kerala came out stronger in the second half, enjoying more possession and showing signs of a fightback. They struck the crossbar and looked more threatening going forward, but their resurgence was halted midway through the half. In the 71st minute, Goa put the result beyond doubt with a slick passing move that culminated in Guarrotxena receiving a well-placed ball in the box. With admirable composure, the Spaniard completed his hat-trick, calmly guiding the ball past the keeper to make it 3-0. From there on, Goa's defence, marshalled expertly, ensured no slip-ups as they comfortably saw out the match to seal their place in the last eight. Coach Manolo Marquez handed Alan Saji the chance to prove himself late in the second half. The promising forward who has made a comeback from injury after seven months on the sidelines almost found the back of the net after being picked inside the box by Guarrotxena but his close-range effort was blocked by the defender.
