ISL: Hyderabad’s League Shield aspirations take a massive hit, Odisha FC moves back to 6th

Odisha FC maintained its stellar file at dwelling this season after a 3-1 win over Hyderabad FC within the Indian Super League (ISL) on the Kalinga Stadium on Friday. The win noticed the Juggernauts substitute Bengaluru FC in sixth place, which provides additional strain on the Blues who play Kerala Blasters on Saturday. A loss for Hyderabad additionally signifies that if Mumbai City FC wins in opposition to FC Goa on Saturday, the Islanders will likely be topped ISL League Shield winners.

The hosts obtained off to a vigorous begin and had been the higher facet within the first half. They dominated possession and had 9 makes an attempt on objective. Hyderabad FC may solely muster three. Five out of these makes an attempt got here through Diego Mauricio. On a few events, the striker couldn’t hold his shot on course, whereas Gurmeet Singh handled the others.

The Brazilian got here closest within the thirteenth minute when his goal-bound shot picked up a slight deflection off Odei Onaindia and nicked the surface of the submit. Saul Crespo managed the tempo from midfield and virtually contributed with a objective when his close-range header from a nook went extensive.

Gurmeet was strong between the sticks, nevertheless it was not sufficient to maintain Odisha quiet because it obtained its nostril in entrance minutes after the half-hour mark. Pedro Martin performed the ball again to Isak Ralte, who unleashed a curling stunner from about 30 yards out to place the hosts in entrance.

Just when it appeared that the Juggernauts had been going into the break forward, Hyderabad restored parity. Borja Herrera lofted the ball into the field from a free-kick which was cleared solely so far as Nim Dorjee. The defender obtained his head on it to equalise.

Six minutes into the second half, after a intelligent give-and-go with Narzary, Joel Chianese glided into the field with the ball and tried to squeeze it in on the close to submit, however Amrinder Singh had it coated. This likelihood got here moments after Narzary’s header was saved comfortably by Amrinder.

Hyderabad turned its sport up somewhat within the second half, nevertheless it was Odisha which retook the lead within the last quarter of the sport. Mauricio’s marauding run attracted three defenders on the left facet of the field earlier than a free ball fell into the trail of Nandhakumar Sekar. The winger flashed it throughout the face of objective and it picked up a deflection off Dorjee and went into the again of the web.

Mauricio’s persistence was in the end rewarded within the last minute of stoppage time. Isaac Chhakchhuak lobbed the ball into the field because the Brazilian beat the offside entice earlier than nestling the ball in on the far submit from an acute angle, confirming all three factors for the Juggernauts.

Odisha will journey to play NorthEast United in its subsequent sport on February 17. Meanwhile, Hyderabad FC’s eight-game unbeaten streak got here to an finish and it’ll attempt to bounce again with in opposition to ATK Mohun Bagan on February 14.