ISL 2020-21: Liston Colaco's late brace hands Hyderabad FC commendable win over NorthEast United FC
This was Hyderabad FC's fourth win of the season, as along with three draws and loses each, it rises to the fourth spot in the Indian Super League table. Meanwhile, NorthEast United FC suffered its third loss of the same, as with two loses and five draws; it stays at seventh.
Hyderabad FC stole it at the closing stages, in what turned out to be a nail-biting encounter, thanks to a late brace from Liston Colaco, to tame NorthEast United FC, at the Tilak Maidan in Goa, on Friday. With this win, Hyderabad has risen to the fourth spot, while NEU stays at seventh.
The opening half saw an attack from Hyderabad in the first minute, as it took the lead in the next minute, through Aridane Santana's left-footed strike to the centre from a close-range attempt, thanks to an assist from Joel Chianese. Nine more attacks followed it until the 29th minute, including twin saves from Hyderabad goalkeeper, Laxmikant Kattimani.
Nonetheless, Chianese doubled the lead for Hyderabad in the 35th minute with a shot to the bottom-right by his right foot from the centre, following Akash Mishra's assistance. In the 43rd minute, Halicharan Narzary brought down Ashutosh Mehta inside the box, as Federico Gallego converted the penalty with his right foot to the centre, to pull one back for NEU.
The 45th minute saw twin further saves from Kattimani before Benjamin Lambot levelled it at the stroke of half-time with his right-footed shot to the top-right, in another close-range effort. It turned out to be the half's final attack, with both the sides moving in with the deadlock in place.
The second half saw 11 further attempts being made until the 80th minute, including three saves, with a couple of them coming from Kattimani. Nevertheless, four minutes later, Colaco shot one with his left foot to the top-left from the right flank, thanks to Ashish Rai's assistance.
The 89th minute saw another attempt being made by NEU, only for Colaco to score his second, four minutes later, with his right foot to the bottom-left, from a similar position like earlier. The game's final attack came from NEU, but to no avail, as Hyderabad walked away with the three points at the end of the game.