Hyderabad FC (HFC) clinched a much-needed 3-2 victory over Jamshedpur FC in a thrilling Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 encounter at the GMC Balayogi Stadium on Thursday. The win marked HFC’s first in nine games, ending a four-game losing streak against Jamshedpur and revitalizing their campaign.
The home side started brightly and capitalized on their early momentum in the 12th minute when Muhammed Rafi scored his first ISL goal. Latching onto a well-placed pass, Rafi fired into the net, giving HFC a dream start. Despite this early advantage, HFC struggled to maintain control as Jamshedpur turned up the pressure.
Jamshedpur FC’s Javi Hernandez proved instrumental in their first-half comeback. The Spanish playmaker earned a penalty in the 24th minute after drawing a foul inside the box. He calmly converted the spot-kick, slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner to level the scores.
Just three minutes later, Javi was back in action. After Jordan Murray was fouled inside the area, Hernandez stepped up again, this time firing into the bottom-left corner, giving Jamshedpur a 2-1 lead. The visitors appeared poised to take control as HFC struggled to find answers.
The tide turned in the second half when HFC demonstrated resilience and tactical precision. Ramhlunchhunga delivered a crucial cross in the 69th minute, finding Joseph Sunny, who exhibited composure and skill to curl the ball into the top-right corner, leveling the match at 2-2.
The decisive moment came in the 74th minute through a moment of brilliance from Andrei Alba. Picking up a precise pass from Manoj, Alba unleashed a stunning shot from outside the box, sending the ball into the bottom-left corner and sealing the victory for HFC.
“It was a very important win for us, especially after a difficult run,” said HFC coach Thangboi Singto. “The team showed tremendous character to come back after conceding twice. We hope this gives us the momentum to push forward in the season.”
For Jamshedpur, the loss was a missed opportunity to capitalize on their first-half dominance. Despite the result, Javi Hernandez’s performance remains a silver lining for the visitors.
With this victory, Hyderabad FC not only ended their winless streak but also rekindled their hopes of a turnaround in the ISL season.
