Close calls see ATKMB win 2-1
Goa: Hyderabad FC fell to a narrow defeat in the hands of ATK Mohun Bagan as the much-anticipated Indian Super League clash ended as a 2-1 thriller. Liston Colaco (56’) and Manvir Singh (59’) scored in quick succession for Juan Ferrando’s side while Joel Chianese (67’) was on the scoresheet for HFC.
After the result, Hyderabad FC remain top of the ISL table with 26 points from 15 games. ATK Mohun Bagan move up to fourth, with 23 points from 13 games.
Manolo Marquez’s men started the game on the back foot with giveaways and missed clearances at the back. The likes of David Williams and Hugo Boumous had a couple of half-chances that could have easily ended up in the back of the net.
Laxmikant Kattimani pulled out an outstanding reflex save after a deflection from Boumous’ shot as Hyderabad FC fought hard to get to the break on level terms.
The visitors lost Boumous and Carl McHugh to injuries late in the first half but came out strong in the second half to keep the HFC backline under pressure.
And it finally paid off on a counter-attacking move as Liston Colaco ran free from a long ball after a Hyderabad FC corner. The ATKMB attacker took on a shot from a tight angle but beat Kattimani to give the hosts a lead in the 56th minute.
FULL-TIME at Bambolim!
The lads fought till the very end but #HFCATKMB ends in a defeat. #ThisIsOurGame #మనహైదరాబాద్ #HyderabadFC pic.twitter.com/T6fMYQ8Sxy
— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) February 8, 2022
Manvir Singh added to the lead just a few minutes later, after a simple ball over the top left HFC’s defence wanting. Manvir looked offside but the Hyderabad defence was split open as Manolo’s men went two goals down with half an hour to play.
Hyderabad did show urgency to get back into the game and Joel Chianese’s goal came in the 67th minute after Joao Victor’s shot was too strong for Amrinder Singh. The goalkeeper’s save fell to Chianese who made no mistake to score his third of the season.
Youngster Rohit Danu hit the bar, and came close on a couple of occasions while a flurry of corners put ATKMB under pressure. But Liston Colaco was a threat throughout the game on the counter and had a couple of easy chances to extend his side’s lead.
But neither team managed to find the back of the net as Ferrando’s side resorted to eating up minutes without action. Amrinder all throughout the second half and the likes of Kiyan Nassiri, Prabir Das and Pritam Kotal at the fag end slowed down the game as it ended in a 2-1 defeat for Manolo’s men. This is HFC’s third defeat of the campaign and the third time they have conceded more than once in a league game this season.
The boys are back in action when they take on Bengaluru FC in an away game at Bambolim on Friday, February 11.
Joel Chianese 
