ISL 2020-21, ATK Mohun Bagan vs Hyderabad FC: Who won yesterday's match?
ATK Mohun Bagan could only earn a point as they came up with a 1-1 result against Hyderabad FC in the 24th match of the 2020-21 Indian Super League Season. Manvir Singh’s goal in the 54th minute was canceled out by a well-taken penalty from Hyderabad FC's Joao Victor just eleven minutes later.
Unlike the last few matches, this contest between ATK Mohun Bagan and Hyderabad FC started in a scrappy manner. Players from both the sides initially struggled to keep hold of the ball.
However, there were still plenty of chances as both teams left a lot of space in the midfield. Initially, Hitesh Sharma came up with a pass to Nikhil Poojary, following which the latter attempted a cross to Liston Colaco. However, Colaco couldn’t control the ball as the chance fizzled away.
At the other end, Roy Krishna tested Subrata Paul with a fine header, following a nice phase of play between Pritam Kotal and Prabir Das. Krishna also came up with a shot that just fizzed across the goalkeeper Subrata Paul in the 17th minute.
Thereafter, Hyderabad FC dominated the possession, but they were pretty sloppy in terms of control and creativity. The Nizams were also found guilty of taking too much time to move the ball forward after regaining possession. In the 25th minute, Hyderabad FC got a free-kick in a superb position after Liston Colaco was brought down by Edu Garcia. After earning the set-piece opportunity, Colaco failed to make the best use as he blazed the ball over the cross-bar.
ATKMB also got an opportunity when Manvir Singh whipped in a low cross to Prabir Das. The latter didn’t quite get the best connection on his shot as Subrata saved it easily. After the cooling break, the game got scrappy once again with some fouls. However, there was a fantastic long-ball from Edu Garcia to Brad Inman. But Subrata got to the ball first as he pushed it to Inman, after which the ball went behind for a goal-kick.
After the second half began, players from both sides still continued to struggle to keep hold of the ball. This meant there were several half-chances. First, Hyderabad FC's Hitesh Sharma began a good move. But Souvik Chakrabarti failed to complete it as he scuffed his shot wide. ATKMB's Prabir Das came up with a thunderous volley during the second phase of a corner, but the strike went just wide of the target.
Eventually, it was an error from Hyderabad FC custodian Subrata Paul that brought about the opening goal. His poor goal-kick let the Mariners regain possession easily. Manvir Singh benefitted from it as he dashed past a couple of Hyderabad FC players before a lucky deflection off Odei Onaindia saw the forward power the ball past Subrata.
Just a few minutes later, Manvir went on to concede a penalty as he pushed Nikhil Poojary inside the box. Poojary drove forward after receiving a through ball from Souvik Chakrabarti when Manvir clashed with the Hyderabad FC winger. The experienced Joao Victor was never going to miss such a chance and he powered his penalty past Arindam Bhattacharya.
Seconds later, Halicharan Narzary could have set up Liston Colaco for a possible goal, but the former took a poor shot to waste the opportunity. The energetic Manvir almost got his second goal as he tested Odei Onaindia before directing his left-footed shot wide of the near post.
Just like the end of the first half, the match drifted to a quiet ending except for a couple of Liston Colaco shots blocked easily by the ATKMB defense. In the end, Hyderabad FC kept the ball in the corner as they were happy to take one point from this intense game.
ISL 2020-21, ATKMB vs HFC: Who was the Hero of the Match?
Although Liston Colaco was named as the official ‘Hero of the Match’, Manvir Singh could be named as the best player of this game. Even though the Punjab forward did give away a penalty that took away two points, he also came up with the first goal of the game.
Meanwhile, Manvir’s goal was also a self-made one as he took the ball from Hitesh Sharma to weave past the Hyderabad FC defense. A deflection off Odei Onaindia was fortunate, but Manvir did superbly to come up with the goal.