FC Goa Triumphs Over Hyderabad FC in Manolo Marquez’s Milestone Match

FC Goa secured a clinical 2-0 victory over Hyderabad FC (HFC) on Wednesday at the Gachibowli Stadium, marking a memorable 100th Indian Super League (ISL) match for head coach Manolo Marquez. 

The result compounded Hyderabad’s struggles at home, extending their winless streak at the venue to 17 games, dating back to February 2023.

The Gaurs began the game on the front foot, dominating the opening 15 minutes with attacking intent from Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh, and Armando Sadiku. Despite their early aggression, Hyderabad’s defence held firm, with Edmilson Correia and Ramhlunchhunga orchestrating counterattacks to keep the visitors in check. 

Substitutes Abhijit and Cy Goddard nearly broke the deadlock for Hyderabad but lacked the precision to finish their chances.

Goa took the lead in the 33rd minute through a moment of brilliance from Mohammad Yasir. Sprinting down the right flank, Yasir delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Udanta Singh. The winger weaved past two defenders before wrong-footing HFC goalkeeper Lalbiakhlua Jongte with a precise shot to make it 1-0.

The visitors doubled their advantage just before halftime in the 44th minute. A swift exchange of passes saw Armando Sadiku set up Iker Guarrotxena, who unleashed a left-footed shot. The effort deflected off Stefan Sapić and found the back of the net, leaving Hyderabad deflated.

In the second half, Hyderabad attempted to turn the tide with renewed aggression. Sourav K came closest to pulling one back in the 59th minute, but his close-range effort was brilliantly parried away by the Goa goalkeeper. 

Despite sustained efforts to penetrate Goa’s defence, Hyderabad found themselves thwarted time and again by the visitors’ organized backline.

The win lifted FC Goa to third place in the ISL standings with 18 points from 10 matches, reflecting their consistent form this season. Meanwhile, Hyderabad’s disappointing campaign continued, leaving them in 11th place with just seven points from the same number of games.

For Marquez, the victory was a fitting way to celebrate his milestone as an ISL coach, especially against his former team. “This was a special game for me, and I’m proud of how the boys performed,” said the Spaniard. “We’ll aim to build on this momentum.”

Hyderabad, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle to salvage their season as their winless run at home persists.