‘We won against a team that refused to lose,’ says Al Nassr boss Jesus after victory over FC Goa

Al Nassr were not only expected to win but also bulldoze over FC Goa in their AFC Champions League Two match at the Fatorda Stadium on Wednesday.

​In the end, the match became too exciting for head coach Jorge Jesus and his Al Nassr side, resulting in a 2-1 victory against the Gaurs. But the Portuguese coach was quick to point out that his team got what it came for.

«The goal of the match was achieved, which was to win and get three points. We won against a team that refused to lose,» Jesus told reporters after the game.

«They have some fast players, but we controlled the game and scored goals. We leave with three points. Many of our players needed chances (with minutes on the pitch). That was also one of our objectives,» Jesus added.

FC Goa put in a spirited performance, but Al Nassr was always going to dominate the match, and the Saudi giants did just that. It had 16 shots on target compared to Goa’s. The only shot Goa had on target was that of Brison Fernandes and that resulted in a goal.

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«We controlled 80% of the match. Goa scored from one chance they created,» Jesus said, subtly indicating that the end result was not good evidence of Al Nassr’s overall dominance in the match.

However, FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez could not have expressed more clearly how proud he was of his team’s performance. The defeat to Al Nassr was FC Goa’s third straight defeat in the AFC Champions League 2 campaign, and the Gaurs still find themselves bottom of Group D without a single point. However, the Spaniard decided to focus on the positives.

«I’m really proud of the players, especially because we didn’t start well and conceded the first goal from a mistake. After the goal Brison scored, we were better… We finished with three corners and could have done something (equalizing). But as far as the team’s performance is concerned, it is difficult as a coach to be more proud than tonight. My only concern is the injuries (Javier Siverio). We have to look at the situation,» Manolo said after the match.

The Goa coach gave special praise to the fans, who he believed played a huge role in his team playing beyond expectations.

«I have been here in Goa for three seasons now. This is probably only the second or third time I have heard ‘FC Goa’ chants loud and clear. Our fans always make noise but this was something incredible,» the Spanish coach added.

Published on October 23, 2025