ISL: Kerala Blasters, Hyderabad FC (FSDL)
Milos Drincic scored the only goal of the match as Kerala Blasters defeated Hyderabad FC 1-0 at home to go top of the Indian Super League table.
Kerala Blasters FC progressed to the top of the points table with a narrow 1-0 victory against Hyderabad FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi to round off the Saturday double header of Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24.
Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic recently stated that the Tuskers have an obligation towards their home fans to give their 100% and more every time they step onto the field in Kochi. It’s safe to say that the players lived up to those expectations in this faceoff against Hyderabad FC, with a goal in the 41st minute by Miloš Drinčić helping them bag all points possible from their first fixture after the international break.
Hyderabad FC are dealing with challenges in their frontline this season, having scored only four times in seven matches this season now. Their major concerns come across in finishing off moves, as they went toe to toe in giving Kerala Blasters a run for their money even after trailing in the proceedings.
Jonathan Moya had a fantastic opportunity to get them ahead in the game even before Drinčić’s strike. At the tip of the attacking unit, Moya was responsible for efficiently optimising the opportunities that Hyderabad created. However, his headed effort failed to even test Sachin Suresh.
Unfortunately for them, no concrete chances came their way…
Key Performer of the Match
Milos Drincic (Kerala Blasters FC)
With two tackles and four clearances, the defender recorded a 74% passing accuracy in addition to scoring the winner to cap off his best performance of the campaign so far.
What’s next for both teams?
Kerala Blasters will next host Chennaiyin FC on November 29 whereas Hyderabad FC will be squaring off against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar for their upcoming match on December 2.