Hyderabad FC played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with ATK FC at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. The visitors took the lead from a Roy Krishna penalty early in the match but went into the break on the backfoot after Bobo equalised for the home side. The Hyderabad forward was once again on target late in the fixture, which seemed to have won his side all three points. Krishna, however, made the most of a poor Kamaljit Singh clearance to earn ATK a share of the spoils.

  • Krishna’s penalty gave ATK the lead in the 15th minute.
  • Hyderabad equalised from a Bobo header in the 39th minute.
  • Bobo scored his second of the night five minutes from the 90.
  • A poor clearance from Kamaljit allowed Krishna to score his second of the night on the 90th minute.

Both outfits had presentable opportunities within the first few minutes, as defender Salam Singh missed an open header for ATK and Hyderabad debutant Nestor Benitez smashed his effort in the side netting.

ATK, however, looked the more threatening of the two and took the lead via a Roy Krishna penalty in the 15th minute. Javier Hernandez’s cross was adjudged to have hit Asish Rai’s hand by the referee, who awarded ATK the spot-kick. Krishna stepped up and did no mistake to score his seventh goal of the season.

Feeling slightly hard done, Phil Brown’s Hyderabad stepped up their efforts and were much more aggressive with their play as the clocked ticked past the 20-minute mark.

Marcelo Pereira and Nestor slowly grew into the match for the home side, with ATK’s David Williams and Hernandez finding it difficult to get on the ball. Nine minutes after the half an hour mark, Brown’s Hyderabad got their much-deserved equaliser after Nestor swung in a delightful cross that was met in a beautiful fashion by Bobo.

Slightly rattled, the two-time champions ATK adopted a cautious approach and held their ground to go into the break at 1-1.

The half-time team talk from Antonio Lopez Habas certainly spurred ATK on as they had two quick chances to take the lead after the break. Krishna’s header from a Williams cross narrowly missed the target while Jobby Justin’s effort was, likewise, just off the mark.

After the hour mark, though, both sides toughened up their defence and found it difficult to get past each other. The pattern was pretty much set as Hyderabad adopted a more direct approach while ATK sat back and tried to utilise their pace on the break.

That approach, however, came back to hurt ATK five minutes from the 90th-minute mark. Nikhil Poojary did some good work on the left-hand side, freeing Marcelo who swung in an emphatic delivery that allowed Bobo to get his head to the ball and give his side the lead.

Hyderabad goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh though, allowed the visitors a way back into the game as his clearance allowed ATK to win the ball back and immediately release Krishna. One-on-one with Kamaljit, the ATK forward made no mistake and earned his side a valuable point.

Hero of the Match – Bobo

The Hyderabad forward had a productive day in the office as he scored twice on the night to earn his side a point. Bobo’s physicality was a constant problem for ATK, who had no answers to his heading ability which was on show when he scored both his goals.

AWARDS

Club Award – Hyderabad FC and ATK FC

Maruti Suzuki Limitless Player of the Match – Roy Krishna

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Javier Hernandez

ISL Emerging Player of the Match – Rohit Kumar

Hero of the Match – Bobo

Watch the match highlights here:

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Hyderabad FC 2019-2020Match Report