Hyderabad confirms semi-final berth with a 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters
League leaders Hyderabad became the first team to officially qualify for the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters in ‘Match 99’ of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season. Bartholomew Ogbeche and Javi Siverio were on target for the Nizams, whilst Vincy Barretto scored the Tuskers’ solitary goal.
Hyderabad head coach Manolo Marquez made two changes to the team that won 3-2 against Goa. Nim Dorjee Tamang replaced Asish Rai in defense, whereas Mohammad Yasir got the nod ahead of Nikhil Poojary for the right-winger’s role.
On the other hand, Kerala Blasters head coach Ivan Vukomanovic made three changes to his team after a 2-2 draw against ATK Mohun Bagan, two of them being forced changes. Sandeep Singh and Jorge Pereyra Diaz, both of whom were suspended for this match, were replaced by Sanjeev Stalin and Chencho Gyletshen respectively. Besides that, Jeakson Singh made way for the promising midfielder Ayush Adhikari in the middle of the park.
The initial phase of the game saw both teams looking hesitant to go all guns blazing, given the importance of the match. The first major opportunity fell to Hyderabad in the 28th minute and they utilized it perfectly to secure the crucial lead.
A long ball from the right flank found Rohit Danu at the edge of the box on the left, and the youngster did well to head the ball towards Ogbeche. The Nigerian marksman was marked closely by Bijoy Varghese but still managed to turn and get a shot in, beating the Tuskers’ custodian Prabhsukhan Gill.
Vukomanovic’s men almost netted the equalizer in the 41st minute when a curling Adrian Luna corner found Harmanjot Khabra in the first post, who flicked the ball towards the goal. His header was saved by the Nizams’ custodian Laxmikant Kattimani and Chencho got a shot in from the rebound, venomous effort struck the crossbar and stayed out.
The Bhutanese attacker got another gilt-edged opportunity in the second half as well, just five minutes after the resumption. A ball from the halfway line by Alvaro Vazquez found Chencho through on goal with only Kattimani to beat, but the veteran goalkeeper came up with a brilliant save to preserve his team’s one-goal lead.
Barely two minutes later, Khabra got his head to another corner but luck was not on his side as his header struck the woodwork before going out. The Tuskers did all they could in the early exchanges of the second half except scoring the goal as Vazquez also went for glory in the 55th minute. However, Kattimani came to the Nizams’ rescue once again by averting the danger.
Having seen his Hyderabad counterpart pull off spectacular saves at the other end of the field, it was then Gill’s turn to produce what will go down as one of the best saves of the season. The 21-year-old first did well to keep Danu’s shot out by diving to his left but the rebound found Ogbeche completely unmarked. The former Kerala Blasters striker’s powerful shot seemed certain to bulge the back of the net, but Gill made a point-blank save to keep his team in the game.
The limelight then returned on Kattimani in the 73rd minute when Vazquez launched a sublime side-volley from a corner, but could not beat Marquez’s trusted goalie. All of these missed chances turned out to be costly as the Nizams doubled their lead in the 87th minute.
Javi Siverio doubled Hyderabad’s lead
Substitute Nikhil Poojary delivered a precise cross from the right flank which found another substitute in Siverio unmarked in the box and the Spaniard made no mistake in heading the ball home from a handshaking distance.
Vukomanovic’s team eventually got their goal in the 95th minute with another substitute in Barretto getting his name on the scoresheet. A freekick from the deep found Rahul who headed the ball towards Barretto’s path and the Goan youngster found the top corner with an exquisite left-footed attempt. Unfortunately for him as his team, that goal was nothing more than a consolation.
Hyderabad has extended their lead at the top of the table with this win. Their next assignment is against Jamshedpur on Tuesday, whereas fifth-placed Kerala Blasters will be up against Chennaiyin on Saturday.