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

Odisha FC maintained its stellar file at residence 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 stress on the Blues who play Kerala Blasters on Saturday. A loss for Hyderabad additionally implies that if Mumbai City FC wins in opposition to FC Goa on Saturday, the Islanders might be topped ISL League Shield winners.

The hosts bought off to a energetic begin and have been the higher aspect 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 the right track, 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 put up. Saul Crespo managed the tempo from midfield and virtually contributed with a objective when his close-range header from a nook went large.

Gurmeet was strong between the sticks, but it surely was not sufficient to maintain Odisha quiet because it bought 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 have 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 bought 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 put up, however Amrinder Singh had it coated. This probability got here moments after Narzary’s header was saved comfortably by Amrinder.

Hyderabad turned its recreation up a bit of within the second half, but it surely was Odisha which retook the lead within the remaining quarter of the sport. Mauricio’s marauding run attracted three defenders on the left aspect of the field earlier than a unfastened 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 finally rewarded within the remaining minute of stoppage time. Isaac Chhakchhuak lobbed the ball into the field because the Brazilian beat the offside lure earlier than nestling the ball in on the far put up from an acute angle, confirming all three factors for the Juggernauts.

Odisha will journey to play NorthEast United in its subsequent recreation 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.