ISL Season 8: HFC's Ogbeche aims to improve after 1st leg win

ISL Season 8: Hyderabad FC scripted a sensational comeback to win the first leg of the semifinals against ATK Mohun Bagan. They will take a 3-1 lead advantage into the second leg and most people will feel that they have one foot in the Indian Super League finals. Follow all the ISL 2021-22 LIVE Updates only InsideSport.IN

Roy Krishna handed the lead to the Mariners early on in the first half. But Bartholomew Ogbeche restored parity for the Nizams right at the stroke of halftime. It took out all the advantage that ATK Mohun Bagan and Juan Ferrando thought they had from the first half. But then the second half came as a shock for the Green and Maroons as Mohamed Yasir scored the decisive goal that handed Nizams the lead. Later Javi Siverio doubled the lead handing Hyderabad FC all the advantage. ATK Mohun Bagan created several chances but they were not clinical enough on the night.

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋-𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 at Bambolim and the boys bring home a 2⃣-goal advantage from the first leg of the semi-final.

Bart Ogbeche, Mohammad Yasir and @JavierSiverio97 help Hyderabad beat ATKMB on an entertaining night.#HFCATKMB #ForTheCup 🏆 #ThisIsOurGame #మనహైదరాబాద్ #HyderabadFC pic.twitter.com/yrr99f2gne

— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) March 12, 2022

Although Ogbeche was happy with the win he is aware that they need to play a lot well in the second leg. He highlighted how head coach Manolo Marquez was mad at the players at halftime for giving their opponents too much space to work with.

“The coach was mad during half-time because we didn’t play according to the plan. I think we respected them a little bit too much. We gave them too much space, too much freedom, It shouldn’t be like that,” Ogbeche said in the post-match interview.

He highlighted how his team were extremely lucky to get the equaliser before halftime. He feels that his team showed more character and did well in the second half.

Also Read: ISL Season 8: Happy for the team and proud to help them says Kerala Blasters star Sahal Samad after scoring in the semifinals against Jamshedpur FC

“I have to say luckily we got that goal just before half-time. After that, we came out in the second half and we had to take the game to them and we did that very well. We were able to score two goals. We should have scored more but we are happy with the lead,” the Nigerian added.

Ogbeche who is currently running away with the Golden Boot this season wants the Nizams to be humble heading into the second leg of the semifinals against ATK Mohun Bagan. He wants to make sure that his team are respectful towards their opponents and assures their position in the finals with a win in the second leg aswell.

“I think we have to constantly seek improvement. We can’t be complacent and ultimately we have to be consistent. We can’t play like we did in the first half. If we do that then we can just go home. That’s not the way to play against a team like this,” he said.

ISL Season 8: We are hoping to perform better in the second leg, says Hyderabad FC's Bartholomew Ogbeche after their 1st leg win against ATK Mohun Bagan — ISL Season 8: We are hoping to perform better in the second leg, says Hyderabad FC’s Bartholomew Ogbeche after their 1st leg win against ATK Mohun Bagan

“We have to be honest. We are up against one of the best teams in the league so we can’t be over the moon. We have to be humble. In four days time we got to be better than what we did today. We have to take the good things that we did today and take the game to them and see, whatever happens, happens, but we can’t show so much respect to them,” Ogbeche continued.

The Nigerian is confident that the Nizams will be ready to deliver in the second leg. He feels that they are going up come up with an even better performance from the first leg.

“In four days, you can count on us to come up with a better performance than what we did tonight,” he concluded.

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