Hyderabad FC boosted their top-four prospects in Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 after a 4-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco on Tuesday. Fran Sandaza scored Hyderabad FC’s first two goals in the second half before Aridane Santana and Joao Victor netted late on.

• Kerala were the bigger threat in the first half but couldn’t break the deadlock.
• Sandaza netted a second half-brace for Hyderabad FC.
• Aridane Santana and Joao Victor added to Hyderabad’s advantage late in the game.

Neither side managed to string together anything of substance in the opening stages. Two lapses at the back by Kerala’s goalkeeper Albino Gomes created some panic, but the Blasters managed to come out unscathed on both occasions.

Kerala also had the first chance of substance in the game just before the half hour mark when the ball came to the edge of the box for Gary Hooper, who drilled a powerful shot on target which Laxmikant Kattimani parried away to safety.

Hyderabad for their part enjoyed more of the ball even though it was Kerala that were a bigger threat going forward. Jordan Murray would have scored off a cross from the right in the 36th minute had it not been for a last-ditch tackle.

Akash Mishra then conceded possession to Prasanth Karuthadathkuni near the Hyderabad box three minutes later with Kattimani off his line. However, Prasanth couldn’t quite find the right finish to beat Kattimani and ended up smashing it straight into the goalkeeper’s grateful hands instead as the teams went into the break with the game goalless.

Hyderabad had a huge opportunity to take the lead two minutes into the second half when Bakary Kone slipped in his own box and let Joel Chianese in on goal. The Australian though failed to keep his shot on target.

The Telangana-based club then took the lead in the 58th minute when Chianese dispossessed Kone near his own goal and lost his footing in the penalty area before a fortunate ricochet off Costa Nhamoinesu inside the box guided the ball to Sandaza for the Spaniard to slot home calmly.

A weak back pass by Kone three minutes after the hour mark was then intercepted by Chianese in the box before an outrushing Albino, who ended up fouling the Australian and conceding a penalty. Sandaza once again demonstrated his composure with a Panenka penalty to double Hyderabad’s lead and put them firmly in control of the match.

Hyderabad began to keep the ball more comfortably and grew in confidence after the second goal, while Kerala struggled to get going. Manuel Marquez’s men killed off any outside chance of a late comeback from Kerala in the 86th minute after Santana executed a powerful header to beat the goalkeeper from a Lluis Sastre set-piece into the box.

Marquez’s men went on to add a fourth in injury time following another freekick into the box by Sastre, who found Santana again. However, this time Santana headed the ball towards an unmarked Victor, who tapped the ball into the net to boost Hyderabad’s goal-difference in the race for top-four, while also ending Kerala’s semi-final hopes.  

Hero of the Match – Aridane Santana

Aridane Santana enjoyed himself during Hyderabad’s clash against Kerala, especially in the second half. The Spaniard scored Hyderabad’s third and provided the lay-off for his side’s fourth goal of the night. He also made two blocks, two successful interceptions and a clearance.

Other Match Awards:

Club Award – Hyderabad FC

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Lluis Sastre (Hyderabad FC)

Watch the Match Highlights here: