Hyderabad FC’s miseries continue in the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL), as they squandered a two-goal lead against NorthEast United, who put five past them at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.
After going 2-0 up inside the opening 12 minutes, thanks to Edmilson Correia’s brace, NorthEast pulled one back before halftime, and then in the second half put four past the Nawabs and completed a 5-2 routing.
With that win, NEUFC are back inside the top six, as the race to the playoffs is gathering more and more heat. HFC are languishing in the bottom part of the table, with just seven points from 12 games.
Ten minutes of euphoria followed by eighty minutes of nightmare
The match could be split into two for Hyderabad FC. The first 12 minutes where everything went their way, with Correia putting them 2-0 up, and they were on course for what would have been only their third victory this season.
But football is a game played over 90 minutes, and NorthEast reminded them of that in the harshest way possible.
After Guillermo Fernandez pulled one back for NEUFC, Alaaeddine Ajaraie missed two glorious opportunities to level the score before halftime but missed it.
The second half was an entirely different story, with NorthEast turning in the screws and thanks to a couple of own goals, completed their five-star showing.
Guillermo got his brace and Ajaraie headed home for NEUFC, while own goals from captain Alex Saji and Lenny Rodrigues piled on the misery for the Nawabs.
New manager, same old Hyderabad FC
Hyderabad FC parted ways with head coach Thangboi Singto and it was interesting to see if HFC will have the new manager bounce when Shameel Chembakath took over as interim manager.
But the script did not change for The Nawabs. It did look that way in the opening twelve minutes but what followed was what we have been seeing from Hyderabad all season.
After conceding six against Odisha just a few weeks back, HFC have now conceded five, in what is their fifth defeat on the trot.
A more worrying sign that is in these five games, they have conceded 17 goals, and unless Chembakath hones in on the defense, the figures can get really embarrassing for the Nawabs at the end of the season.
Race for playoffs picking up steam
It is usually around Christmas and New Year’s time that the playoff contenders start consolidating their position in the top six.
During this time, a string of defeats can push a team out of contention, whereas a flurry of good results can propel a team into the playoff spot.
NorthEast are in 6th place at the moment, with 18 points from 12 games, but breathing down their necks are Punjab FC, who have a game in hand and are also on 18 points.
Jamshedpur FC are also on the same points, having played a game less, while above NorthEast, Odisha FC are in fifth with 19 points and Mumbai City are on 20.
It looks like ISL will head into yet another thrilling finish, and from how close it looks currently, every point matters.
What did the coaches say?
Hyderabad FC’s new interim manager spoke about keeping a calm head when in the lead and the team’s defence in the post-match presentation.
He said “We started well, and it was a positive first half. We as a team need to understand how to manage a game. I think we need to work more on our defensive organization,”
Meanwhile, Juan Pedro Benali, head coach of NorthEast United, spoke about how he motivated his boys to play with more intensity and aggression in the second half.
“I told the boys to be ourselves, to bite and go for the game. Don’t wait for Hyderabad to play, let’s press them, let’s work harder, its okay we gave them the first half. Let’s get the second half,” he said.
What next for HFC and NEUFC?
Hyderabad FC are in action next against in-form East Bengal, at the Gachibowli Stadium on 28th December.
NorthEast United, on the other hand, will travel to Mumbai on December 30 when they face reigning ISL Cup winners Mumbai City FC in a top-six clash.
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