FC Goa goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh earns AFC accolades with most saves in group games

New Delhi, May 5: FC Goa's young goalkeeper Moirangthem Dheeraj Singh emerged as the best goalkeeper of the group league round of the AFC Champions League even though his side failed to advance to the knockout stage in its maiden appearance.

Dheeraj, who had excelled during the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup at home, made a whopping 26 saves in five matches to top the goalkeeping chart of the West Zone group league stage.

"Dheeraj Singh certainly made a name for himself on his continental debut, pulling off a tournament-leading 26 saves in just five games, among them a number of memorable efforts that earned high praise from impressed observers," the AFC said on its website.

Five West Zone group league matches were held simultaneously at various localised venues last month, instead of the usual home-and-away fixtures in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Goa hosted the Group E matches.

The other teams in Group E were Persepolis FC of Iran, Al Rayyan of Qatar and Al Wahda of the UAE. The East Zone group matches will be held later. Mohammed Al Owais of Al Ahli Saudi FC made 24 saves to stand second, followed by Ahmed Basil of Al Shorta (19 saves), Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri of Esteghlal FC (18) and Adel Al Hosani of Sharjah ( 17).

Dheeraj had also won praise from opposition coaches for his stupendous work under the bar, which had contributed to FC Goa's drawn games against Al Rayyan (twice) and Al Wahda (once). FC Goa had finished third in Group E behind Persepolis FC and Al Wahda, with three points from three draws and three losses.

The Indian Super League side was on the verge of becoming the country's first club to win an ACL game but conceded an 89th-minute goal against Al Rayyan to play out a 1-1 draw.