Hyderabad FC (HFC), the former Indian Super League (ISL) champions, secured their first point of the season after a hard-fought goalless draw against two-time champions Chennaiyin FC (CFC) in their home match at the GMC Balayogi Stadium on Tuesday.
Playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, HFC showed resilience despite going down to 10 men in the second half.
The hosts missed several golden opportunities in the first half, failing to convert some clear chances. In the ninth minute, Abdul Rabeeh, the speedy right winger, delivered a perfect cross to Cy Goddard, who, despite being in a prime position, couldn’t beat CFC goalkeeper Samik Mitra.
Another chance came in the 29th minute when Rabeeh once again delivered a brilliant cross, but both Allan de Souza and Ramhlunchhunga failed to finish the move, squandering another opportunity to break the deadlock.
Chennaiyin also had their moments, with Daniel Chima Chukwu coming close to scoring after a strong run down the left flank, only to miscontrol the ball near the goal. In the 58th minute, CFC’s Lukas Brambilla was denied by a crucial save from HFC goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh, whose deflection off the goalpost kept the match goalless.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 71st minute when Hyderabad was reduced to 10 men. Defender Parag Shrivas received his second yellow card for a serious foul on Connor Shields, leaving HFC to defend with one less player for the final 20 minutes.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, HFC’s defense, led by captain Alex Saji, Muhammed Rafi, and Shrivas before his dismissal, stood firm. Goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh played a crucial role, making several important saves as CFC pressed harder in the second half, creating more scoring chances but failing to convert any.
Hyderabad FC, still in search of their first win, will take solace from the fact that they earned their first point of the season after back-to-back losses. Chennaiyin FC, meanwhile, will be disappointed with their inability to capitalize on their second-half dominance and break through the resilient HFC defense.
