ISL: Hyderabad FC down FC Goa to return to top of table
Hosts Hyderabad Football Club continued their good run with another 1-0 victory, over Goa FC, in front of their home crowd
Hyderabad: Hosts Hyderabad Football Club continued their good run with another 1-0 victory, over Goa FC, in front of their home crowd, at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. Javier Siverio (‘10) scored the only goal of the game that proved decisive in the end.
Both sides were heading into this game unbeaten in the season. FC Goa had a 100% win record after two games, and Hyderabad FC had collected seven points after three games.
Hyderabad FC were unchanged from last week’s win over Bengaluru FC. FC Goa, on the other hand, made two changes – Ayush Chhetri and goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh were included in the starting XI, with Glan Martins and Dheeraj Moirangthem dropped to the bench.
Hyderabad FC took the lead in the 10th minute. A throw-in directed towards Bartholomew Ogbeche’s head from the left flank was flicked by the Nigerian onto the path of an unrushing Javier Siverio, who made no mistake with his finish, expertly placing the ball into the bottom left corner with his left-foot.
FC Goa had most of the possession in the first-half, and were extremely patient in build-up, trying to get the Hyderabad FC forwards to commit to the press, and play through them, but the Hyderabad FC defence disrupted most moves before the away team could enter the final third.
In the 23rd minute, Noah Sadaoui, who was finding space in the left channel throughout the first-half, played Redeem Tlang in, who only had the Hyderabad FC goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani to beat, but the FC Goa winger’s lobbed effort was too tame, and went straight into the hands of the Hyderabad FC goalkeeper at the edge of his box.
Half-time ended with Hyderabad FC taking a 1-0 lead. FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena made a double switch before heading into the second-half. Marc Hernandez and Redeem Tlang made way for Mohamed Fares Arnaout and Makan Chothe.
The second-half started with both sides showing greater urgency. Hyderabad FC were more aggressive, attempting to put FC Goa on the backfoot by overloading the flanks. FC Goa were also less patient in their build-up, looking to play the ball in behind more often.
Noah Sadaoui was found clear on goal four minutes later for FC Goa, but some good work from Kattimani once again, who was quick off his line, forced the Morrocan to delay his shot, and take it from a difficult angle.
