Comeback kings Hyderabad FC once again showed their powers of recovery as they bounced back from going a goal behind to beat ten-man Chennaiyin FC 3-1 in a Group C Durand Cup match at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal on Friday.

Anirudh Thapa handed Chenaniyin FC the lead just two minutes before half-time as Hyderabad FC rode on Ogbeche’s (65th, 74th) brace and Joao Victor’s strike to take full points as Chennaiyin FC’s Fallou Diagne was sent off in the 54th minute.

The game was a cagey affair in the first half an hour. Chennaiyin FC then began to enjoy a bit of momentum that resulted in the opening goal.

Thapa broke the deadlock just two minutes before the breather as he pulled off a superb finish to beat Hyderabad custodian Laxmikant Kattimani after being fed by an inch-perfect cross-field diagonal pass from Sajal Bag.

After the change of sides, Hyderabad FC were awarded a penalty after Senegalese defender Fallou Diagne was sent off for handball clearance off the line.

Joao Victor stepped up and successfully converted from the spot to level the score.

Nine minutes later, Ogbeche handed Hyderabad FC the lead from a Mohammed Yasir delivery from outside the box.

Minutes later, Ogbeche handed Hyderabad FC a two-goal cushion with another header from Lalchungnunga Chhangte’s cross.

The Marina Machans pressed hard in the dying minutes in search of goals and Kattimani saved Ajith’s low, powerful show from outside the box.

Chennaiyin FC came all out attacking in the final minutes of the game but luck seemed to be not in their favour as Croatian striker Petar Sliskovic hit the woodwork in injury time.

Brdaric’s men will take on I-League side TRAU FC on September 1 while Hyderabad FC will face NEROCA FC on Tuesday

Jamshedpur FC pip FC Goa

Jamshedpur FC needed a late goal to claim the first win of their Durand Cup campaign as they edged FC Goa 1-0 at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata on Friday.

Tapan Halder (84’) scored the only goal of the game as the Red Miners kept their campaign alive.

Carlos Santamarina’s team started well and created the first opening in the 20th minute when Ruatmawia forced FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari into a save.

Keisan Angelo Singh then went close for Jamshedpur FC five minutes from the interval with a powerful drive from distance. The Red Miners though couldn’t make their dominance count as the two teams were locked at 0-0 at the break.

Jamshedpur FC continued to push for the goal in the second half and were presented with a golden chance to break the deadlock when they won a penalty. However, Tiwari saved from Vinil Poojary from the spot to keep the game level at 0-0 with little over a quarter of an hour to play.

Minutes later, Phrangki Buam got a golden chance to put FC Goa in front but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Jamshedpur FC then punished FC Goa for that miss as Halder kept his composure in front of the goal to break the deadlock six minutes from time.

FC Goa pushed for an equaliser but Jamshedpur FC held on pick up their first win of the Durand Cup 2022 and make Group A very interesting.

FC Goa take on Bengaluru FC in their final group game on Tuesday and have to win to have any chance of progressing. As for Jamshedpur FC, they face a must-win situation as well when they take on Indian Air Force FT a day later.

Related tags:

Hyderabad FCJamshedpur FCFC GoaChennaiyin FC