Bartholomew Ogbeche's brace helps Hyderabad beat Chennaiyin FC

Marina Machans defender Fallou Diagne was sent off in the 54th minute.

Hyderabad FC (HFC) beat 10-man Chennaiyin FC (CFC) to register their second win of the 131st IndianOil Durand Cup, here at the Khuman Lampak Stadium. Bartholomew Ogbeche scored a brace for the winners in the second-half, while Joao Victor converted from the spot, after CFC had taken the lead through Anirudh Thapa just before the half-time whistle.

Hyderabad now has six points from two matches while Chennaiyin have one from the same number of games.

CFC with the upper hand in the first half

CFC started the first half brightly and maintained possession in the middle of the park. They created openings with captain Anirudh Thapa dominating all around. The wing backs and the wingers were playing high up the pitch, making HFC defend for most of the half.

They deservedly took the lead through a stunner from the skipper. Sajal Bag played it long, spotting Thapa’s run inside the box. He finished delicately by taking the shot off balance, which stunned Hyderabad keeper Lakshmikant Kattimani.

Hyderabad comeback

HFC started on the front foot in the second half attacking from the beginning. The introduction of Bartholomew Ogbeche made the HFC attacks more meaningful.

Akash Mishra was putting in crosses from the left to trouble the CFC defence. One such cross found Javier Siverio whose header was cleared of the line by Fallou Diagne. However, it was deemed to have been done with the hand and the Senegalese received marching orders. From the resulting penalty HFC skipper Joao Victor scored to even up proceedings.

HFC took the lead in the 64th minute through the redoubtable Bart Ogbeche. A freekick from the right by Mohammed Yasir found a free Ogbeche inside the box, who slammed in a powerful header to give his team the lead.

The 10-man CFC were finding it difficult to contain the HFC attacks which resulted in the third goal. Nim Dorjee’s cross from the right fell in no man’s land and it was retrieved by Lalchungnunga Chhangte. His pin-point cross for Ogbeche, had the Nigerian ace head it into the goal for a second time in the match.

CFC did attempt to salvage something from the game with a last ditch effort, but could not disturb the HFC defence.

Next matches of Chennaiyin FC and Hyderabad FC

Hyderabad FC will play NEROCA FC on August 30, 2022 while Chennaiyin FC will play TRAU FC on September 01, 2022. Both matches will be played at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal.

Tomorrow’s Matches

Mohammedan Sporting will play Indian Air Force at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata and that will be followed by NorthEast United FC clashing against the Kerala Blasters at Guawahati’s Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.