Hyderabad FC‘s sensational 4-0 win over Mohammedan SC in the Indian Super League in Kolkata on Saturday, October 26 has opened floodgates of happiness among their supporters in the Deccan. The Nawabs last scored more than three goals in January 2023 – under the tutelage of Manolo Marquez against FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium – and have suffered from a goal drought of sorts ever since.
The club’s fortunes seemed to be going downhill after the previous owner’s failures to play his players and staff came to light, but with the stepping in of the BC Jindal group this season, things seem bright for the Yellow and Black. With a lot of torment and distress behind them over the last Indian Super League season, in which they competed with an all-Indian squad and staff in the second half, Hyderabad may just be starting to see the light.
And it is no surprise that Diwali is just around the corner. Although they have a match against giants Mohun Bagan Super Giant a day ahead of Diwali (Wednesday, October 30) at home, the club’s supporters will feel that the festival of lights has already arrived in the Deccan – there could be no bigger gift than the unbelievable scoreline at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
What impressed one the most about the Nawabs against Mohammedan was the way in which they pressed when without possession and how quickly they opened up spaces for their attackers to create their magic. Cy Goddard, usually the creator and finder of spaces when real estate seems to be at a premium, was kept on a tight leash by Mohammedan, but he managed to bring his other teammates into play regularly. Ramhlunchhunga, on the left wing, was a delight to watch.
Striker Allan Paulista, who bagged a couple of goals in the match, benefitted from the lax attitude displayed by the defenders of the Black Panthers while marking. However, his willingness to open his body up and curve the ball into the net came in handy for his second goal, while his first – the fastest scored in the ISL this season – was due to his relentless pursuing and hounding of his tormentors wearing black and jeered on by the 5,000-odd supporters.
Another exciting feature of the Hyderabad performance on Saturday was the way their defensive midfielders Isaac Vanmalsawma and Andrei Alba held their shape when creating chances and freed up the left wing. At times, the position of the inverted winger suited Ramhlunchhunga well, who was quick to take the ball at his feet and then pass it on to Goddard before finding more space in the final third to receive it and pose an attacking threat. Alba’s piercing passes and Vanmalsawma’s inch-perfect accuracy while crossing and lobbing at the heart of the Nawabs’ midfield proved the perfect foil for their attackers.
Hyderabad’s tactics stood out during a particularly challenging evening in Kolkata
And what can be said of the Nawabs’ defence, helmed by captain Alex Saji and the gigantic Stefan Sapic? In their second clean sheet in three ISL matches, the Hyderabad defence stood tall and delayed the gratification that Mohammedan’s attackers, led by Alexis Gomez, were seeking all night. While Saji and Sapic made sure to foil any attempts heading their way, special mentions have to be reserved for Mohammed Rafi and Parag Shrivas in the fullback positions.
The latter won a million hearts and cemented himself as a fan favourite almost immediately after his brilliant curler, but it was Rafi’s tenacity as well as fluidity at the back that helped matters out greatly. The Kerala footballer did not take a moment to adjust to his new role as fullback after Sapic arrived to play as centre-back alongside Saji earlier this year, and did his job without any fuss, and always with a smile on his face.
Some of the tactics used by Hyderabad on the night deserve to be mentioned. The way the left-hand side was freed up for Shrivas and Ramhlunchhunga to proceed has already been mentioned, but their hybrid defending, shifting quickly from man-marking to zonal when pressed in their defensive half deserves a lot of applause. Along with this, Goddard’s willingness to run into empty spaces and pull opposition defenders along with him allowed Paulista to get some time on the ball, and the Brazilian felt more comfortable taking on such situations.
Hyderabad made the quick adjustment of playing short passes when the need arose, although the lack of Lenny Rodrigues in defensive midfield seemed to pose a challenge. However, this is where Vanmalsawma stepped up, allowing Alba to shield their defenders and creating transitions from defence into the final third, bringing joy to the faces of Paulista, Goddard and Chhunga, who appreciated the former Aizawl FC player’s efforts like a man dying of thirst does when in sight of a waterfall.
Hyderabad have risen to the 11th spot of the ISL table courtesy of this win, but their head coach Thangboi Singto knows that their journey has only just begun. Ever humble and modest even during success, Singto mentioned after the game that Hyderabad need to keep working hard and take this momentum forward into their future games. However, if early signs are anything to go by, it is not too far-fetched to assume that this Hyderabad side are shaping up well, and are only just readying to launch an offensive strike into the ISL.
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