ISL 2024-25: Late Paulista equaliser helps Hyderabad FC secure draw against in-form FC Goa
ISL 2024-25: Late Paulista equaliser helps Hyderabad FC secure draw against in-form FC Goa
FC Goa and Hyderabad FC played out a 1-1 draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on Wednesday.
The visitor secured a point late into the game to bag its third draw of the season.
The Gaurs enjoyed a strong hold on the contest, creating numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match. However, they lacked the clinical edge needed to capitalise on their dominance and secure all three points.
Armando Sadiku pulled off a cheeky effort off the back heel of his feet in the fifth minute to try and put FC Goa ahead following a corner kick. Mohammad Yasir picked the ball on the right side of the box and thundered a shot that met Sadiku instead. The striker tried to make the most of the angle that he was stuck in, but the ball ricocheted off the post instead.
Goa finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, capping off a period of sustained pressure. They gradually pushed Hyderabad FC back, creating a sense of urgency within their penalty area. Boris Singh delivered a precise cross to Dejan Drazic at the left post. Drazic’s header was partially blocked by the Hyderabad FC defence, but Sadiku, perfectly positioned, slammed the ball into the top right corner of the net.
Goa was brought down to 10 men after Borja Herrera was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute after an incident involving Hyderabad FC defender Alex Saji. Incidentally, Saji was the next player to be sent off, in the 72nd minute. He picked up his second yellow card of the game following a foul on Sadiku away from the 18-yard box, taking the numerical advantage away from his side.
The Gaurs tried to capitalise upon that urgently, with Udanta Singh setting up a delivery for Aakash Sangwan, who was outside the 18-yard box. Sangwan unleashed a left-footed effort that missed the target by a margin.
Isaac Vanmalsawma and Allan Paulista combined to salvage a point for Hyderabad FC in added time of the second half. Hyderabad FC hadn’t mustered many concrete chances in the game, but Issac’s insistence on exploiting wider areas bore fruit when he sent in another cross for Paulista, which the latter slotted into the bottom left corner, hurrying the FC Goa defence and notching the all-important equaliser.
With this result, FC Goa stays at third with 26 points, while Hyderabad FC is at 12th with 9 points from 15 matches.
