HFC beat KBFC: Clinical Hyderabad FC edge past Kerala Blasters, confirms semifinal berth

HFC beat KBFC – ISL 2021-22: Vincy Barretto scored a consolation goal for Kerala in stoppage time but it was too little too by then. The result means Kerala stay in fifth place with 27 points from 17 outings, Mumbai only a point above them at fourth after their 1-0 win over SC East Bengal on Tuesday.

FULL-TIME | #HFCKBFC@HydFCOfficial confirm their spot in the semi-final with a hard-fought win against @KeralaBlasters 💪🏻#HeroISL #LetsFootball #HyderabadFC #KeralaBlasters pic.twitter.com/PZpUz4X93k

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) February 23, 2022

HFC beat KBFC – ISL 2021-22: Kerala replaced Jorge Pereyra Diaz, who was serving a one-match ban for his ‘violent conduct’ in the last game against ATK Mohun Bagan, with Chencho Gyeltshen upfront.

With a lot at stake, both teams approached the game with a safety-first mindset as the defences looked solid, not willing to blink first. It needed a special effort to break the deadlock and Ogbeche — who else — provided the spark to unlock the Kerala rearguard with a deft touch and then a powerful finish to take his tally to a whopping 17 goals this season.

HFC beat KBFC: Clinical Hyderabad FC edge past Kerala Blasters, confirms semifinal berth

Rohit Danu headed in a pin-point cross inside the box for Ogbeche to control the ball, turn sharply and fire a rocket of a shot past the keeper and into the net.

HFC beat KBFC – ISL 2021-22: Kerala responded with an attempt that found the crossbar from a Chencho Gyeltshen left-footer after the Bhutan striker was set up by Harmanjot Khabra who flicked on a Adrian Luna corner in his path. At halftime, league leaders Hyderabad led 1-0.

Also Read: ISL Season 8: AIFF DC bans Kerala Blasters’ Jorge Pereyra Diaz for one game

The second half started to some end to end stuff as both teams pressed the accelerator. First Chencho spurned a gilt-edged chance, giving Laxmikant Kattimani enough time to come off his line and close him down despite being one on one with him. Khabra then hit the bar from a corner before Alvaro Vazquez showed his class, getting past two defenders with a cheeky back-flick but shooting straight at the keeper.

HFC beat KBFC – ISL 2021-22: At the other end, Prabhsukhan Gill pulled off a brilliant double save, first keeping Rohit Danu at bay to then get up in a flash and deny Ogbeche from close. Kattimani was not far behind in Hyderabad goal, denying Vazquez’s volley with a dive to his left. Vazquez ran Hyderabad ragged with his incisive play as he came close to scoring again, sending his attempt just over.

Finally, after a host of missed efforts at both ends, Hyderabad doubled their lead to seal their semi berth as substitute Siverio headed in a  Nikhil Poojary cross with Gill only getting a faint hand to it.