Team Herald
PANJIM: Laxmikant Kattimani stood like a wall throughout the game to deny ATK Mohun Bagan the goals they needed to overturn the tables as Hyderabad FC progressed to their first Indian Super League final with a 3-2 aggregate win, despite losing 0-1 on Wednesday at Athletic Stadium, Bambolim.
Enjoying a two-goal first leg cushion, Hyderabad were comfortable in defending. They were put to a massive test by strong ATK Mohun Bagan attack, who had a mountain to scale in this fixture. Though Roy Krishna scored the lone goal, it wasn’t enough for ATK to see them progress into the final.
ATK Mohun Bagan kept knocking throughout out the game. Liston Colaco, Roy, Hugo kept pressing in search of the goal. But they lacked the composure to get the ball at the back of the net.
At the half hour mark, Laxminkant Kattimani produced a fine save to keep his side in the game when he put in a strong foot to deny Liston. At the other end, HFC’s Aniket Jadhav squandered a chance to score as he missed a header form inside the box. Jadhav was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he was fouled by a ATK player in the box.
In the second half, ATK Mohun Bagan was the side which created maximum chances. It was more of Hyderabad’s defensive resilience which stood on a night where the opponents had a strong attacking line-up.
Kattimani produced a man-of-the-match award winning save in the 51st minute when he made himself large infront of Roy, sending the ball over the bar. If Hyderabad couldn’t score it wasn’t a issue for HFC as far as their defence made it worse for ATK MB.
After constant knocking, ATK finally broke the deadlock in the 79th minute and it was Liston who worked on the left flank before sending a delivery in the area where Roy Krishna powered home to make it 1-0.
HFC were too happy to hold back and they did that brilliantly despite conceding a goal. The last 15 minutes or so were very intense but in the end, HFC are the winners which means that they will now head into the finals.
Only if ATKMB had taken their chances, the result might have been different. Jubilation for HFC as they will be playing their first final while dejection for ATKMB as the last year runners-up are knocked out.
ISL FINAL: Hyderabad FC vs Kerala Blasters on March 20, at 7:30 pm IST
