Bart Ogbeche goal helps Hyderabad FC edge Bengaluru FC
(Courtesy : ISL Media)
The victory took the Nizams to the top of the ISL 2022-23 points table.
Hyderabad FC remained unbeaten in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 after a narrow 1-0 victory over Bengaluru FC at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. Bartholomew Ogbeche (‘83) got the only goal of the game to keep Hyderabad FC at the top of the league table.
Both clubs headed into this match undefeated with four points on board after two matches. The two sides were quite solid at the back in the first-half with neither goalkeeper needing to make any saves. The two best chances of the half fell to Hyderabad FC’s Javier Siverio.
The second one was the easier one - Mohammad Yasir found Siviero lurking in front of the Bengaluru FC goal, and put in a perfectly weighted pass with his left foot, but the striker couldn’t get the right contact with his head and glanced his header wide.
Hyderabad FC found some space on the wings in the first couple of minutes but weren’t able to find the right cross. Ogbeche, who was the league’s top goalscorer last season, was kept quiet by Bengaluru FC’s five-man backline. Alan Costa, in particular, was impressive from his right centre-back position.
Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chettri, who was making his 100th appearance for the club – and became the first player to achieve this for a single ISL club - showed his composure and quality every time he got on the ball, but Hyderabad FC did a good of making sure he wasn’t being supplied with the ball regularly. Jayesh Rane started his first game of the season for Bengaluru FC, but they faced the same ball retention issues again.
Hyderabad FC started the second half with more urgency. Ogbeche took a shot from range in the 55th minute and Halicharan Narzary came close three minutes later but the shots were wide. Javier Hernandez - filling in for Roy Krishna - also took a shot from range in between that period, and tested Laxmikant Kattimani for the first time.
Javier Siverio had another great-headed opportunity in the 63rd minute but Gurpreet Sandhu was in the right place to deny him.
Both teams made some attacking changes with 75 minutes gone. Leon Augustine had come on for Siva in the 64th minute, this was followed by double substitutions from both sides 10 minutes later.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 83rd minute by Ogbeche, giving Hyderabad FC a 1-0 lead. Borja Herrera’s corner was tamely pushed by Gurpreet Sandhu into the path of Ogbeche, who headed home his second goal of the campaign. That was enough for Hyderabad FC to get all three points. They now sit on seven points, with Bengaluru FC on four.
Hyderabad FC will be hosting FC Goa next on 29th October, in matchweek 4, whereas Bengaluru FC will be heading to the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar to face Odisha FC on 27th October.
- Is Neymar playing tonight for Al Hilal vs Al Tai in Kings Cup?
- Is Ruben Amorim the right manager to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United?
- How did India perform in SAFF Women's Championship 2024: key highlights & missed opportunities
- Mainz vs Bayern Munich Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds
- Hyderabad FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant lineups, team news, prediction & preview
- ISL 2024-25: Top five Indian players from Matchweek 5
- Which pot will India occupy in AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Round 3 draw?
- Who Is Oscar Bruzon? East Bengal's new head coach
- EA FC 25 title update 3: All you need to know about latest patch
- Indian Sports Calendar October 2024: Major events to look forward to in third week
- Will Oscar Bruzon's knowledge of Bashundhara Kings give East Bengal an edge in AFC Challenge Cup Clash?
- Indian Football Team Player Watch: Aakash, Chhangte & Gurpreet impress; Vikram, Suresh need to improve
- Narendra Modi highlights crazy El Clasico fandom in India
- ISL 2024-25: Alex Saji, Mourtada Fall highlight impenetrable Matchweek 6 Team of the Week defence
- Jose Molina reveals plan on 'how to beat' Hyderabad FC in ISL