ISL 2020-21: Hyderabad FC, NorthEast United FC share honours in a frustrating draw
This was Hyderabad FC's eighth draw of the Indian Super League 2020-21 season, as with five wins and three losses, it has risen to the third spot. With similar performance, NorthEast United FC has climbed a place to fourth, while on the same points, NEU is behind on goal difference.
In what turned out to be a frustrating encounter, Hyderabad FC and NorthEast United settled for a goalless draw in the 2020-21 Indian Super League, at the Tilak Maidan in Goa, on Sunday. Both the sides have risen to third and fourth, respectively, on similar points, with Hyderabad being ahead on goal difference.
The opening half saw eight attempts, including three saves, while a couple of them came from Hyderabad goalkeeper, Laxmikant Kattimani. In what was a composed half, both failed to break the deadlock.
The second half saw eight further attempts, including a couple of saves in the closing stages from NEU goalkeeper, Subhasis Roy Chowdhury. Nonetheless, it all resulted in no goals, as the honours were shared at the full-time whistle.
Following the game, Hyderabad manager, Manuel Marquez termed the game as boring. "It was a very boring game. Both teams played without freedom and were very slow on the ball. We had to try something more because they played only three days ago. But, if you look at teams after rest, only one team won their first game after the break. Maybe, all the teams are tired, but it is not an excuse. Maybe, we had one or two chances, but not clear-cut," he said, reports goal.com.
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"When you arrive and the team is in a good situation, it is not the same as the example of Deshorn Brown. Roland arrived in the team, now, we are eight games unbeaten and just when Sandaza recovered. It is not easy for him to adapt fast," he concluded.
Meanwhile, NEU head coach, Khalid Jamil wants to focus on the upcoming game against Odisha FC. "We were always thinking about a positive result. - three points. We tried, we got many chances. And, talking about the team, it is a good performance, we played with a good team. They also did a good job. So, I am happy to get one point, but we would be happier to get three points," he asserted, reports Goal.
"We are not thinking (about the positions on the table). Odisha are a good team and we must not take them lightly. All the teams in ISL are good. They have good foreign players and for us, it is important to not to take them lightly," he concluded.