Hyderabad on the wrong side of shootout in Hero Club Playoff

ATKMB beat HFC on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after extra time

Kozhikode: Hyderabad FC ended their 2022-23 campaign with a harsh result as they were beaten 3-1 on penalties by ATK Mohun Bagan in the Hero Club Playoff at the EMS Corporate Stadium in Kozhikode on Wednesday.

Dimitri Petratos (20’) opened the scoring from a quick throw-in but Joel Chianese (44’) stuck just before the break in an identical move as the game ended 1-1 after normal time and extra time.

This is HFC’s second penalty shoot-out loss to the Mariners this season as Juan Ferrando’s men make it to the preliminary round of the AFC Cup next season.

With the likes of Gurmeet Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Bart Ogbeche and Javi Siverio missing, HFC were taking on a full-strength ATKMB side, that put pressure on Manolo Marquez’s men early in the game.

But the breakthrough only came from a quick throw-in that caught Hyderabad’s defense lacking. Hugo Boumous and Manvir Singh managed to set up Petratos with a tap-in and HFC were on the back foot early in the game.

However, Manolo’s men, like always, responded in fine fashion with a similar goal at the other end. Borja Herrera, who was a thorn in the Mariners’ flesh all game, set up Chianese with the easiest of finishes to draw level before the break.

Mohammad Yasir hit the post while Aaren D’Silva also came close in a hard-fought first half for both sides.

But it was the backline of Odei Onaindia, Chinglensana Singh, Akash Mishra, and Regan Singh, that managed to keep ATK Mohun Bagan at bay for most of the game.

Anuj Kumar on goal pulled off a couple of decent saves as well along with Vishal Kaith at the other end, who was lucky on a couple of occasions. Abdul Rabeeh, who came off the bench, weaved through the Mariners’ backline while Chianese had a couple of other chances that could have sealed the game.

Ferrando’s men were second best for most of the second half and the entirety of extra time but with neither goal breached, the game was set to be decided on a penalty shoot-out.

Joao Victor converted his kick with precision but Tavora, Chianese, and Odei all missed for Hyderabad. The Mariners saw Petratos, Liston Colaco, and Kiyan Nassiri make sure that Anuj Kumar’s splendid save for Carl McHugh’s penalty had no bearing on the final result.

Manolo Marquez was animated after full-time and was given a red card in what was his final game for the Yellow and Black as Hyderabad and ATK Mohun Bagan played out yet another grueling contest in the Club Playoffs.

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