FC Goa climbed to third place in the standings as they defeated Hyderabad FC 2-0 in the opening fixture of Indian Super League Matchweek 11 on December 4, Wednesday at the Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad. (Match Highlights)
After 33 minutes of goalless play, the Gaurs broke the deadlock when Udanta Singh Kumam fired a clinical right-footed strike from the center of the box into the bottom left corner. Just 🐲five minutes later, Iker Guarrotxena doubled their lead with a stunning left-footed shot from outside the box, finding the bottom l𒀰eft corner once again.
Despite some efforts 🌳from Hyderabad, including several missed chances, the score remained unchanged, and the Nawabs continued their struggle to secure their first home win of the season.
The visitors were assertive in possession as they discovered newer ways to breach past the Hyderabad FC defence.
The Gaurs operate🅰d in tandem, marching seamlessly through the flanks to keep pushing at the opposition's backline and reaped rewards when Udanta and Guarrotxena de🦄monstrated clinical finishing touches.
Udanta's goal was a making of his teammate Mohammad Yasir's eye for a decisive pass. As the Gaurs tried to build up attack from the back, Yasir dropped down the field, received the ball and started sprinting ahead past the Hy𒆙derabad FC midfield and ওdefensive lines on the right flank.
As he cut through inwards from the wing, he spotted Udanta coming at a promising goal-scoring position at the centre of the 18-yard 🔥box.
Yasir delivered a deft pass, which Udanta received and placed imm🐽ediately to the bottom left corner to open the scoring for the night.
Eleven minutes later, Yasir was a🔯gain instr𓂃umental in creating the play that led to a goal by the Gaurs. He steamrolled with the ball and burst at the edge of the box from the right flank, before making a pass to Armando Sadiku who was beside him.
Sadiku demonstrated tremenওdous awareness by back-heeling the ball in Guarrotxena's path, and the latter did the rest by smashing a strike into the bottom left corner 🎃to double the team's lead, which proved sufficient for them to bag the three points.
Hyderabad FC's occasional efforts in the second half of the game fell short o🔯f yielding t꧑he required outcomes to them.
Soyal Joshy attempted an ambitious effort from the outside of the box in the 50th minute that was saved by FC Goa custodian Hrithik Tiwari.
Three minutes later, Cy Goddard and Andrei Alba teamed up to test the Gaurs' backline, but that effort wasn’t𓄧 precis𒈔e enough either as Alba's shot didn't land on target.
Up next in their ISL fixture, Hyderabad FC will face Chennaiyin FC on December 11, Wednesday, in an away game. Meanwhile, FC Goa will take on second placed Bengaluru FC on December 14 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
(With PTI inputs)
