Record-breaker Bartholomew Ogbeche stars in Hyderabad’s 5-0 win over NorthEast United
Hyderabad handed NorthEast United a 5-0 humbling in ‘Match 77’ of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season. Bartholomew Ogbeche scored a brace for the Nizams, while Akash Mishra, Nikhil Poojary and Edu Garcia were also on the scoresheet.
Hyderabad head coach Manolo Marquez made no changes to the starting XI that won 3-2 against Odisha, while NorthEast United head coach Khalid Jamil made two changes to his team. Mohamed Irshad replaced the suspended Hernan Santana, which opened up an overseas slot for the Highlanders and allowed Jamil to field Patrick Flottmann, dropping Mashoof Shereef to the bench.
As many would have expected, the Nizams had a bright start and took only three minutes to open the scoring. A Joel Chianese cross from the left flank found Joao Victor at the far post and the Brazilian’s header struck the crossbar, but the ricochet fell kindly to Ogbeche, who was alert as a fox to tuck in the rebound.
The Highlanders had an opportunity of retaliating immediately as Gurjinder Kumar found Marco Sahanek in space inside the box merely a minute after conceding, but the Austrian’s shot was directed straight at Laxmikant Kattimani in the Hyderabad goal.
Sahanek was involved once again in the 14th minute when his freekick created a pinball situation inside the Nizams’ box. The ball eventually fell for Zakaria Diallo, but he failed to keep his shot on target.
Marquez’s team doubled their lead in the additional time of the first half, courtesy of another sublime Chianese delivery from the flank. It was a corner this time around and Akash Mishra got his head to the ball, flicking it towards the net to make it 2-0.
There was no change in the complexion of the match in the second half and it took all but 15 minutes for the Nizams to score their third. Souvik Chakrabarti floated in a curling ball from the left flank and found Chianese at the far post. The former Perth Glory player unselfishly headed the ball towards Ogbeche who had the easiest chance of heading the ball towards an unguarded goal. The Nigerian striker initially made a hash of his header but quite acrobatically managed to get some connection with his feet to net his 49th goal in this competition and become the leading goal-scorer in the history of ISL.
Ogbeche is now the leading goal-scorer of ISL
The Highlanders thought they had pulled a goal back when VP Suhair netted home a rebound after Pragyan Gogoi’s effort ricocheted off the crossbar, but the goal was rightfully chalked off as Suhair was in an offside position.
It was the only noteworthy attack from Jamil’s men, as the Nizams continued their onslaught and found a fourth in the 84th minute. After receiving a pass from Sahil Tavora, Poojari went for glory from outside the box and incredibly managed to find the bottom corner, beating an outstretched Subhasish Roy in the NorthEast United goal.
The carnage, however, was not over yet, as two substitutes decided to join the party in the concluding act of the game. Siverio found himself in a dangerous position with Patrick Flottmann marking him. Instead of trying to beat the Australian central defender, Siverio played the ball towards an onrushing Garcia’s path and while the pass was cheeky, the finish was exquisite as Garcia nutmegged Roy to score his first and his team’s fifth goal of the match.
Hyderabad has strengthened their hold on the first position in the standings with this win and will now take on ATK Mohun Bagan on Tuesday, while the tenth-placed NorthEast United will be up against Kerala Blasters on Friday.