ISL Season 8: Hyderabad FC scripted history after they held out ATK Mohun Bagan to a 1-0 defeat in the second leg of the Indian Super League semifinals. The Nizams have progressed through to the finals of the Indian Super League for the first time in their history ever as they defeated ATK Mohun Bagan over two legs on aggregate score. Follow all the ISL 2021-22 LIVE Updates only on InsideSport.IN
The Mariners were ready for the onslaught but it was just not their day as Liston Colaco, Hugo Boumous and even Roy Krishna made some dreadful errors in the final third which led them to this result in a very crucial game. Although Krishna scored yet again from Liston’s cross it was a little too late for things to materialize for the Mariners.
𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 💛@HydFCOfficial have secured a place in the #HeroISL Final for the first time! 👏#ATKMBHFC #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/plwm8lBnAI
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 16, 2022
Coming to Hyderabad FC, it was a magical season for the Nizams starting from their efforts on the transfer market to their efforts on the field, they have been superb. Nizams were a little unlucky to not make it to the playoffs last season so they decided to make the necessary changes. They brought in players who have already won the league or has experience and pedigree, especially among the foreigners. Manolo Marquez got the likes of Bartholomew Ogbeche, Juanan, Edu Garcia and also scouted in young Spaniard Javier Siverio while Joel Chianese and Joao Victor remained from last season.
All the mentioned players who have prior experience in India and also in ISL have stepped up big time in the current campaign and have helped directly or indirectly in the growth of the organization. Overall right from planning to execution, the Nizams have been sensational and were brilliantly led by the Spanish magician named Manuel Marquez Roca.
Hyderabad FC started their campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Chennaiyin FC but immediately rectified themselves with a 3-1 win against Mumbai City FC in the second fixutre. They were pretty consistent throughout the season and after the middle phase, they took their position at the summit more seriously. Some people even felt that if not for COVID-19 the Nizams would have beaten Jamshedpur FC and bagged the ISL Shield for themselves. But that was not the case but they surely get their redemption by qualifying for the finals.
On the other hand, it has been a long and agonising wait for the trophy for the Kerala Blasters as they defeated Shield Winners Jamshedpur FC in the semifinals to clinch their finals berth for the third time in their history. This time they are convinced that the ISL trophy will go to Kochi as Ivan Vukomanovic’s men are in great touch and have been playing breathtaking football. Therefore it promises to be a high voltage clash between two well-oiled teams.
Kerala Blasters also featured in the curtain-raiser for the league this season as they were hammered 4-2 by ATK Mohun Bagan. But that defeat brought a change to their mentality as Vukomanovic went on a long unbeaten streak. They gradually started playing at the intensity that the Serbian tactician wanted them to be at. They were gradually converting those draws into wins.
They also looked like a team that can be a challenger for the Shield but a little drop in intensity meant they went off track and missed out on the big feat. But they are now in the finals and with thousands of fans travelling to Goa, the Yellow Army will have the advantage over the Nizams in the finals.
So everything will be decided on March 20 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda in Goa as Hyderabad FC will take on Kerala Blasters in a stadium filled with fans for the first time in the last two years.
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