Kochi: In an intense Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 clash here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Hyderabad FC (HFC) secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters (KBFC) courtesy of a brace from midfielder Andrei Alba.
The game started energetically, with Kerala Blasters asserting dominance in the opening minutes. In the 13th minute, Jesus Jimenez gave KBFC an early lead, converting a well-executed move initiated by Korou Singh, who beat Parag Shrivas and squared the ball for Jimenez to tap in. The Yellow Army looked sharp, and their forward line put constant pressure on the Hyderabad defense.
Despite being on the back foot, Hyderabad FC found their rhythm, and in the 43rd minute, Andrei Alba leveled the score with a powerful side-footed strike after a brilliant assist by Ramhlunchhunga. Alba’s goal ensured that the teams went into halftime with the score tied at 1-1, setting up an intriguing second half.
The second half began with Kerala making tactical changes, bringing on Noah Sadaoui in an attempt to reclaim the lead. However, the match’s most controversial moment came in the 68th minute when the referee awarded Hyderabad a penalty following a handball review involving KBFC’s Hormipam. Replays showed that the ball did not hit Hormipam’s arm, but the decision stood despite protests from the Blasters and thus in the 70th minute, Alba converted the penalty to score his second goal of the night, giving Hyderabad FC a 2-1 lead. The decision sparked furious reactions from the Kerala Blasters’ players, with Hormipam confronting the referee, but the goal was upheld.
As the clock ticked down, Kerala Blasters pushed for an equalizer. In the 89th minute, Hyderabad’s defender Parag Shrivas made a crucial sliding interception to deny Noah Sadaoui a golden chance to level the score. Kerala continued to attack, but Hyderabad’s defense held firm, with goalkeeper Jongte making important saves.In the dying moments, Sourav replaced Ramhlunchhunga, adding fresh legs to help Hyderabad see out the match. Despite Kerala’s best efforts, Hyderabad FC’s defense stood tall, and the match ended with a 2-1 victory for the Nizams.
Hyderabad FC secured their second win of the season, while Kerala Blasters, despite a strong start, suffered a disappointing defeat at home. Andrei Alba emerged as the star of the night, with his brace sealing the three points for Hyderabad.
