East Bengal claim 2-1 win thanks to Cleiton’s free-kick

Kolkata: Hyderabad FC’s 2023-24 Indian Super League campaign kicked off on a cruel note as a 98th-minute goal from Cleiton Silva gifted the hosts all three points in a high-octane clash at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday.

Hitesh Sharma (8’) scored the opener of the game after the ball fell to him in the box from a Joe Knowles shot but Cleiton (10’) equalized immediately after in a quick start to the game.

The story of the game came at half-time when Cleiton banged into Laxmikant Kattimani with a late challenge which went unpunished.

FULL-TIME at the Salt Lake Stadium!

A last-minute free-kick the difference between sides on the night…#EBFCHFC #TheNawabs 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/Vj7jSUTF3R

— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) September 30, 2023

Kattimani had to be rushed to a hospital but is now in better condition, revealed coach Thangboi Singto, after the game.

Anuj Kumar came off the bench and also pulled off a big save late in the game.

Aaren D’Silva who came off the bench had a late chance that could have bought it back for Hyderabad but it was Cleiton who decided the game with a superb free-kick.

Debutants Joe Knowles, Felipe Amorim, Petteri Pennanen and Oswaldo Alanis, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, both of who came off the bench, showed plenty of promise on an unlucky night in Kolkata.

Hyderabad are back in action when they take on Jamshedpur FC in a 8:00pm kick-off on Thursday, October 5.