FC Goa eliminated after 2-1 loss to Al-Qadsia at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium
FC Goa were beaten 2-1 by Al-Qadsia at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in Hawally, Kuwait in the final Group C match of the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League on October 23, 2026; Chiki scored for Goa while Hamza Khabba netted a brace for the Kuwaiti side.
The match was the last game of Group C in the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League and pitched top-seeded Al-Qadsia against India’s FC Goa, a side described in the report as regularly representing India in continental competitions. A victory was obligatory for the Gaurs to avoid an early exit, and the fixture was presented as a decisive group encounter for Gouramangi’s side.
Al-Qadsia opened the scoring when Hamza Khabba struck in the 10th minute, and Chiki drew Goa level with a header in the 21st minute. Before the end of the first half Khabba scored his second of the night to restore Al-Qadsia’s lead, and despite late pressure from Goa the match finished 2-1.
Defensive lapses were highlighted in the report: Lara was criticised for failing to track the ball for the first goal and was judged unable to do much about the second, Jhinghan was said to have underperformed in marking Khabba during Al-Qadsia’s early attack, and Zalaya was singled out both for failing to mark Khabba on the opening cross and for delivering the header from a corner that was deflected on and converted by Chiki.
On the flanks, Udanta was noted for offensive contributions but also for leaving spaces that Al-Qadsia exploited and for struggling to track Ayoub Lakhdar on counters. Willson was described as having a frustrating night against the Kuwaiti wingers, while Nemil, deployed on the wing after appearing at number nine in the previous match, was credited with pace and impact but identified as having room for improvement.
Midfield and substitutions were addressed: Vallejo was said to offer defensive stability alongside Harsh Patre, who the report judged failed to make an impact and was later substituted near the hour mark. Malsawmsanga started on the left but provided little creativity, Haobam came on around the hour and took set pieces, Ortiz was introduced late despite having scored against Fortis previously, Carvalho replaced Franchu but was described as slower to match the Kuwaiti wingers’ pace, and Vaipehi was brought on late.
The 2-1 defeat ended FC Goa’s campaign in the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League as they finished third in Group C with three points & a goal difference of -1; Hamza Khabba scored both Al-Qadsia goals while Chiki netted Goa’s sole strike.