FC Goa beat Hyderabad FC 2-0 in the 61st match of the Indian Super League at the Maidaan in Gachibowli on Wednesday, 4 December. The Gaurs were helped by strikes from Udanta Singh and Iker Guarrotxena in the game’s 33rd and 44th minute, respectively.
Hyderabad were clearly the more aggressive side on display, with 23 shots as opposed to their opponents’ 13. However, the visitors were more clinical and organized in defense, preventing the Nawabs from running free in the final third.
The Yellow and Black seemed much more confident in front of goal in this game than in their previous encounters against Odisha and Mumbai City. Goa went up to the third position of the ISL table with 18 points after this win, while Hyderabad kept languishing in the 11th spot with 7 points inside their kitty.
#1 Mohammad Yasir‘s exquisite pass for Udanta Singh’s goal
Mohammad Yasir’s exquisite pass to set up Udanta Singh for Goa’s first goal will be discussed for ages. The former Nawab, turning up at the stadium where he has made plenty of memories, won the ball against Hyderabad fullback Parag Shrivas in the 33rd minute and drove past him.
What followed next is a legend that will get passed on to generations of matchgoers at the Maidaan: Yasir looked up, saw the faintest of gaps between Stefan Sapic and Muhammad Rafi, and weighed a curved pass with the outside of his left foot to find a hungry Udanta at the end of it. The latter picked the ball up and calmly slotted it home for the visitors’ night’s first goal.
#2 Hyderabad’s improved attacking output
Hyderabad fared much better in this game regarding attacking in the final third than their 0-1 loss away from home to Mumbai City. Instead of just three shots against the Islanders, Hyderabad took 12 shots just in the first half against Goa.
The Nawabs seemed capable of breaking through the deadlock before Udanta did so for the Gaurs. However, the likes of Edmilson Correia, Cy Goddard, and Ramhlunchhunga began firing with all guns blazing. They even tested the away goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari – an academy product – but to little avail in the first half.
#3 Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari’s stunning performance
Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari was another show-stopper in this game as he repeatedly proved why head coach Manolo Marquez highly rates him. The Assam custodian stood up when the going got tough for Goa and prevented a sum total of seven shots from going into the back of the net.
Tiwari’s positioning was brilliant, and he ensured he had commandeered the back despite being 22 years old. Central defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Odei Onaindia relied upon Tiwari for their man-marking instructions, and the latter did not disappoint them.
Tiwari, who started in three games for Goa before this encounter, has been putting up fine showings all season. In this game against Hyderabad, he showcased why he deserves to be the Gaurs’ number one even after their regular starter Laxmikant Kattimani recovers from injury.
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