Hyderabad FC brushed aside the disappointment of the losses in the first two games to script a remarkable 2-1 win after after trailing at half-time against Kerala Blasters FC in the Hero ISL at Gachibowli Stadium here on Saturday night.
Finally, Phil Brown’s boys produced the kind of football, especially in the second-half, the soccer-crazy Hyderabadis were looking for in its first home game.
It was Kerala which took the lead in the 34th minute thanks to the efficacy of the K.P. Rahul and Sahal Abdul Samad who combined well close to the ‘D’. First, Rahul essayed a short lob to Sahal who in turn relayed a neat through pass which was latched onto by the former to deflect the ball into the goal in the 34th minute.
It was not as if Hyderabad was outplayed in this first session for it missed a couple of chances.
But, Kerala Blasters constantly changed gears thanks to the enterprising duo of Rahul and Sahal on the left flank and the frequent forays by the captain Bartholomew Ogbeche from the centre.
Just before the break, Hyderabad FC’s Marcelo charged down the centre only to be thwarted by an alert custodian Paramba in the 44th minute.
On resumption, it was a totally different Hyderabad FC which went on the offensive from the word go.
Penalty converted
To the delight of home team fans, a foul by Mouhamadou Moustapha on Mohammed Yasir saw Hyderabad FC earn a penalty in the 54th minute which was smartly converted by midfielder Marko Stankovic.
Ironically, it was another foul by Moustapha on Nikhil Poojary which saw Hyderabad FC earn a free-kick in the 84th minute. A stunner by the mercurial Marcelinho whose left-footer curled into the left-corner of the goal to the dismay of the Kerala camp.
The result: Hyderabad FC 2 (Marko Stankovic 54, Marcelinho Pereira 81) bt Kerala Blaster FC 1 (K.P. Rahul 34 ) .
