FC Goa vs Gokulam Kerala: Guarrotxena hattrick powers Gaurs to Kalinga Super Cup Quarterfinals

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FC Goa booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 with a commanding 3-0 win over Gokulam Kerala FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

The match was defined by the brilliance of Spanish midfielder Iker Guarrotxena, who registered a clinical hat-trick to power the Gaurs into the next round.

The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Dejan Drazic made an incisive run from midfield before being brought down in the penalty area. Guarrotxena stepped up and confidently struck the ball down the centre to give FC Goa the lead.

The second goal arrived just thirteen minutes later. Aakash Sangwan made an overlapping run on the left and delivered an accurate cross into the box, which Guarrotxena met with a well-timed volley to double the advantage.

Guarrotxena completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute after a swift attacking move. Jay Gupta sent a low cross to Udanta Singh on the right, who then squared the ball for the Spaniard to tap in from close range. With this treble, Guarrotxena's tally for FC Goa now stands at 23 goals from 45 appearances, placing him third in the club's all-time scoring charts.

At the back, goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari maintained composure, producing a couple of important saves late in the game to secure his eighth clean sheet of the season. The backline, marshalled by Odei Onaindia and Sandesh Jhingan, remained solid throughout, preventing any significant threat from Gokulam Kerala.

The result sees FC Goa progress to the last eight of the tournament, where they await the winner of the Odisha FC vs Punjab FC fixture to determine their next opponent.