Bengaluru FC finished seventh last ISL season. (File)ISL 2020-21 Highlights: Bengaluru FC were held to a 0-0 draw by a spirited Hyderabad FC in the ninth match of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on Saturday.
After being held 2-2 by FC Goa in their season opener, Bengaluru hoped to register their first win of the season against Manuel MĂĄrquez Roca’s side but Hyderabad came up with a dogged performance. Hyderabad, who started with an impressive 1-0 win over Odisha FC, tormented the Blues backline at regular intervals but weren’t clinical enough in the end.
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After three minutes of injury time, the referee blows the whistle. Hyderabad gave Bengaluru a run for their money with their lively approach up ahead with the ball but their misfiring boots couldn't help them get the three points. Second ISL clean sheet for them.
A fine cross from Cleiton sees Subrata Pal fumble it with Brown in close vicinity but the Hyderabad defenders close him down quickly and solve the issue. Minutes later, Odei comes to the rescue as he unnerves Brown and saves his team the blushes.
Apart from two slashed attempts from Narzary ten minutes back and another scuffed shot by Chhetri, the match hasn't had a lot of shots. It has been a lot of overhit passes and failed crosses so far. Khabra goes into the book though. Into the final five now.
Carles Cuadrat with another change as the young Suresh Singh Wangjam is removed out of play. Leon Augustine comes on.
Suresh comes with a fantastic run from the right flank but his attempted low cross has been blocked out of play by a diving Victor. The resulting corner by Delgado doesn't result anything. The match is opening up a little bit though now.
Carles Cuadrat makes two substitutions as Deshorn Brown and Rahul Bheke replace Fran Gonzalez and Udanta Singh respectively.
Delgado is down on the ground after coming together with Santana. Before the incident, Hyderabad were passing the ball comfortably but playing it rather safely. Roca's men have to be brave enough to threaten the defensively astute Bengaluru.
The match restarts as Santana sets the ball rolling. Bengaluru have made a change though: Delgado's on for Opseth.
After three minutes of stoppage time, the referee brings the half to an end. Hyderabad have been lively but they have been seriously depleted with two injuries to Joel Chianese and Lluis Sastre. Hitesh Sharma replaced the latter. All to play for in the second half!
Paartalu goes down inside the box clutching his ankle but the replays show that there wasn't much contact by a Hyderabad player in the box. Bengaluru have upped the ante towards the end of the half to sneak in a lead and unnerve the opposition.
Bengaluru have been forced to kick the ball out as Joel Chianese has rolled his ankle. Mohammad Yasir comes in place of him.
Hyderabad come close to scoring but Onaindia's long pass to Chianese is judged to be offside. Although the replays suggested that his run was indeed on. Minutes later, Paartalu is shown the yellow card for a foul on Narzary down the left flank.
Just after Khabra's foul on Santana, Hyderabad concede one foul of their own. Chianese, after stealing the ball from Suresh, goes on a powerful run through the left flank. However, he brings down Cleiton Silva and a free-kick is awarded to the Blues.
Chhetri finds Ashique with an intricate pass but the left wing-back lost the ball and fouled Ashish. Hyderabad make another scrappy foul in the opposite half too minutes later. Both teams are yet to settle in, but the Men in Yellow have most of the ball.
Here we go! Bengaluru FC to get us underway here at the Fatorda Stadium.
Since Hyderabad FC debuted last season, the two have only have faced each other twice with Hyderabad winning neither of the matches. Hyderabad, in terms of wins during the regular season, is second from the bottom in ISL history with 3 victories from 19 matches. On the other hand, Bengaluru FC is fifth in the list with 36 wins from 63 matches at a success rate of 57.14 percent.
Bengaluru FC Substitutes: Lalthuammawia Ralte, Rahul Bheke, Pratik Chowdhary, Leon Augustine, Dimas Delgado, Deshorn Brown, Thongkhosem Haokip, Amay Morajkar, Wungngayam Muirang
Hyderabad FC Substitutes: Laxmikant Kattimani, Souvik Chakraborty, Sahil Panwar, Adil Khan, Hitesh Sharma, Mohammad Yasir, Liston Colaco, Laldanmawia Ralte, Sweden Fernandes
Bengaluru FC (4-2-3-1): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Juanan, Fran Gonzalez, Ashique Kuruniyan, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Erik Paartalu, Udanta Singh, Cleiton Silva, Sunil Chhetri, Kristian Opseth
Hyderabad FC (4-2-3-1): Subrata Paul (GK), Ashish Rai, Odei Onaindia, Chinglensana Singh, Akash Mishra, Joao Victor, Lluis Sastre, Halicharan Narzary, Nikhil Poojary, Joel Chianese, Aridane Santana
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of Bengaluru FC vs Hyderabad FC. After starting their campaign with a draw against FC Goa, Carles Cuadrat's men will be aiming for a first win of the new season. Can Manuel Roca's side cause an upset? Stay tuned!