Hyderabad FC were held to a draw by Jamshedpur FC after Stephen Eze’s late equalizer cancelled out Aridane Santana’s strike at Tilak Maidan on Wednesday. Here are a few talking points from our first home game of the Indian Super League 2020-21.

Midfield Magic

Hyderabad put on an attacking show from the start with the help of quick passing and testing crosses which enabled them to venture deep into Jamshedpur territory. Enforcing this game from the midfield were Mohammad Yasir, Hitesh Sharma and Joao Victor.

‘Hero of the Match’, Yasir regulated the play meticulously by providing support to the attacking trio and was a creative presence throughout the match. He displayed the ability to steal the ball, maintain possession and made effective runs and crosses to the opponent’s box. Our No 10 also registered a couple of shots to end the night with an all-round performance.

Meanwhile, Hitesh made an impact in the midfield with his numerous interceptions and accurate passing. He was involved in Hyderabad’s goal as he set up Narzary down the left in the build up. The Assamese winger’s effort was blocked by Pawan Kumar in the Jamshedpur goal, before Aridane slotted the rebound into the net. Hitesh and Joao Victor worked in tandem to control the midfield and distribute the ball constructively.

Defensive Dedication

The entire team made defensive contributions against the Red Miners, which added solidity to our backline. Asish Rai put up an energetic performance, making an impact at both ends of the pitch. He made crucial blocks in defense and made darting runs up the field to aid the attack. Odei Onaindia displayed leadership skills at the back by being a commanding force throughout the game. He made 11 clearances and stood strong to keep Jamshedpur’s attack at bay. Chinglensana Singh put up another good show at center-back and proved to be an aerial threat throughout during set-pieces. Akash Mishra played another consistent game by communicating well with midfielders and running down the flanks whenever required.

Apart from the back-four, Hitesh Sharma and Liston Colaco provided great depth to our defensive performance on the night. Colaco contributed with tackles and defensive blocks as well while putting forth a quality display of his attacking abilities.

Narzary Express

Halicharan Narzary proved to be a menace for JFC’s defenders with his sublime tricks, forward runs and close attempts. He created the best opportunity in the first half by deceiving the defender, before firing in a powerful attempt from the left side of the penalty box that hit the wrong side of the far post. He was also involved in the goal as he started off the move down the left when he beat Jamshedpur’s Laldinliana Renthlei and put a shot in. Narzary put up a solid stance in the opponent box throughout the game and did not deter in his path to the goal despite several challenges from the Red Miners’ backline. He built an effective partnership with Aridane and continued to create good opportunities through the game.

Impactful Aridane

While Manolo’s men managed to negate the impact of JFC top-scorer Valskis, Aridane continued to have a greater impact in the rival box. Captaining the side for the third successive game, the Spaniard gave his side the lead with a neat close-range finish in the 50th minute. He took his chances well and was a lively presence throughout the game before he was forced off due to a niggle. Although his absence was felt, the team showed a strong mentality and continued to create chances in the final quarter.