Hyderabad FC started and ended the day as leaders of the Indian Super League (ISL), but for a period of two hours when ATK Mohun Bagan had previously topped them. Hyderabad was pushed to the end by FC Goa but emerged victorious 3-2 at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim.
A brace from Bartholomew Ogbeche and a goal from Joao Victor saw HFC go ahead with ATK Mohun Bagan. The Kolkata-based club had topped the day with a draw against Kerala Blasters. For Derrick Pereira’s men, it was a second consecutive defeat that places them in ninth place.
ISL 2021-22: House , fixtures , Result , Mark sheet , photos
FC Goa got off to a good start but Maken Chhote diddge Nikhil Pujari going towards the goal. The youngster fled with a yellow card as the HFC players demanded strict punishment. Success came from Bartholomew Ogbeche (25′), who scored his 15th goal of the season with a precise header from Ashish Rai’s cross.
In response to the goal, Ortiz (35′) found the back of the net ten minutes after conceding with a clinical finish in the bottom left corner, thumping a brilliant ball from Alberto Noguera. However, Ogbeche (41′) took the lead for his team with his 16th goal of the season, a personal record. It was also the 51st goal in an all-time record for the Nigerian, taking him above Sunil Chhetri and helping the Nizam go into the halftime break with a slim lead.
In the second half, Gaur hit with the intention of equalizing. Princeton Rebello came close with a volley that went well ahead of the target from long distance. However, it was the Nizams who scored against the run-off through their captain Joao Victor (70′) who scored from a distance at the stroke of the 70th minute. Two minutes later, Devendra Murgonkar (73′) scored with a header, justifying his presence from the bench.
The final leg of the match saw a brilliant defense from Hyderabad. The defensive line was particularly disciplined, a characteristic of Manolo Marquez’s men. Five minutes were added for stoppages but they were not enough for Gaur, as HFC snatched three points and moved to the top of the table.
Hyderabad FC will play fellow top four contenders Kerala Blasters FC in their next match at the Athletic Stadium on Wednesday, while FC Goa will look to sabotage Mumbai City FC’s quest for playoff qualification at the same venue on Saturday.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And Assembly Election Live Updates Here.
,