SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Hyderabad were denied a win following a 85th minute equalising goal by Stephen Eze who helped Jamshedpur FC to a 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League at Tilak Maidan, on Wednesday.
Aridane Santana gave Hyderabad the lead in the 55th minute.
Hyderabad might have dropped points, but they are undefeated in the competition so far while Jamshedpur FC are yet to record a win.
Hyderabad coach Manuel Roca handed first starts to Liston Colaco and Laximikanth Kattimani and the duo were outstanding for Hyderabad. Adil Khan also featured in his first game this season coming on as a second-half substitute late in the game.
Jamshedpur dominated with better possession and passing in the first quarter. Nerijus Valskis and Alexandre De Lima kept the home defence on their toes with constant raids.
Liston’s 12th minute free-kick almost gave Hyderabad the lead, but the ball failed to land in the goal, missing narrowly.
At the other end, Kattimani produced a fine save to deny Jamshedpur in the 24th minute. Laldinliana Renthlei danced his way past Akash Mishra before finding Jackichand Singh on the edge of the box, but the latter’s effort was tipped over by the Hyderabad custodian.
Former FC Goa player Halicharan Narzary nearly scored the first goal but his shot from tight angle hit the far post. That was the first real chance of the game for Hyderabad.
Five minutes into second half, Hyderabad FC were ahead in the game with Santana scoring off a rebound. Narzary danced his way past Renthlei and pulled the trigger, but Pawan Kumar’s block fell straight to Santana, who rolled the ball at the back of net.
With less than 20 minutes left on the clock, JFC got the ball at the back of the net. But it was disallowed by the referee. Kattimani tried to keep a JFC free-kick out of danger area by punching away, but his effort ricochets off Santana’s and entered the goal, while Peter Hartley ran into the keeper.
JFC’s constant efforts were paid off in the 85th minute when Eze fired home from inside the box. Chinglensana Singh’s effort to keep away Valskis’s cross, falls to William Lalnunfela who laid the ball for Eze and the Nigerian blasts it past Kattimani to make it 1-1.
