This result sees Hyderabad FC drop to 3rd in the points table, behind Army Red (4 pts) and Gokulam Kerala (4 pts) with one more game to play in Group D.
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Hyderabad FC delivered a valiant performance against the 2019 Durand Cup Champions Gokulam Kerala at the Kalyani Stadium on Thursday, but fell to a 1-0 defeat after a superb start to their campaign. The first half saw Hyderabad go toe-to-toe against the 2020-21 I-League winners as the two teams failed to find the back of the net in a goalless half of football. After the restart, Shameel Chembakath’s side were dealt a blow in the first minute as Rahim Osumanu scored from close range. Lalbiakhlua Jongte pulled out a superb save from the initial shot but was helpless with the second as Hyderabad went a goal down with the whole half to play. But they were given some hope when a reckless Emil Benny picked up a second yellow just minutes after the goal, leaving the Malabarian’s down to 10 men.
Hyderabad managed to create a couple of decent opportunities but niggles and cramps to players around the field deflated any momentum the youngsters managed to create. Gokulam Kerala managed to hold on in the end as there was just a goal separating the two sides on a tiring afternoon. The youthful Hyderabad side failed to find parity and fell to their first defeat of the 2021 Durand Cup. This result also sees the team drop to 3rd in the points table, behind Army Red (4 pts) and Gokulam Kerala (4 pts) with one more game to play in Group D. Hyderabad FC will play Army Red in the decisive game next Sunday.
The Hyderabad-based team had delivered an all-round display to record a fantastic 5-0 victory over Assam Rifles Football Team, in their opening encounter at the Mohun Bagan Ground in Kolkata. Lalchungnunga Chhangte (18′, 89′) was the star of the show as he netted a brace while bagging two assists as well. Abdul Rabeeh (7′), Rohlupuia (21′) and Arun Kabrabam (27′) also scored in the big win. The three points earned took Hyderabad FC to second place in the Group D standings behind Army Red who stayed atop with four points from two games, after their 2-2 draw with Gokulam Kerala FC.
The second fixture of Group D in the competition saw Hyderabad take the lead just seven minutes into the game. Chhangte started it all off with a peach of a ball for Abdul Rabeeh to score from a tap-in. He scored minutes later, with Rabeeh this time turning the supplier.
Hyderabad FC were 2-0 up 18 minutes into the game and it only got better. Chhangte picked up his second assist of the day as his cross gave Rohlupuia an easy finish from six yards out. A rampant HFC were in no mood to give up as five minutes later, striker Arun Kabrabam made the most of a spill from the keeper, to score his first goal of the Durand Cup, giving Hyderabad FC their fourth.
The youngsters managed the game well till the break and even after, as they put in a solid performance to keep Lalbiakhlua Jongte’s goal away from danger. Chhangte topped off his eventful outing with probably the goal of the day as he scored an inch-perfect freekick from 20-yards out to round off a dominating display by Hyderabad.
