Hyderabad FC pulled off an impressive 2-1 comeback victory over Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday. The win brought Hyderabad’s points tally to seven, though the team remains in 11th place, while the Blasters continue their slump, staying 10th after their third consecutive defeat.
The match began brightly for the home side, with the Blasters dominating early proceedings. Their attacking intent paid off in the 13th minute when 17-year-old Korou Singh delivered a pinpoint cross to Jesus Jimenez, who slotted the ball home with ease to give the Blasters an early lead.
Kerala looked poised to add more goals, with Mohammed Aimen and Adrian Luna exploiting gaps in Hyderabad’s defense. However, despite the pressure, Hyderabad clawed their way back into the game.
Parag Shrivas found Andrei Alba with a well-timed pass from the left, and Alba’s rising shot just before halftime stunned the hosts with the equalizer.
The second half saw Hyderabad emerge as the more confident side. Substitute Edmilson Correia nearly gave the visitors the lead in the 55th minute, but Kerala’s goalkeeper, Som Kumar, produced a critical save to keep the game level.
K.P. Rahul’s introduction added urgency to the Blasters’ attack, with the midfielder sending dangerous crosses into the Hyderabad penalty area. But the hosts’ hopes of regaining the lead were dashed when a controversial penalty decision went against them. Replays showed that defender Hormipam did not handle the ball, but the referee awarded the penalty nonetheless.
Andrei Alba stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick in the 70th minute, giving Hyderabad the decisive edge. Despite their best efforts, the Blasters couldn’t find an equalizer, leaving the home fans disappointed.
Reflecting on the game, Kerala will rue their missed opportunities and the contentious penalty call. Hyderabad, on the other hand, used the momentum of the first-half equalizer to turn the match in their favour.
The result leaves both teams with much to ponder. While Hyderabad will take confidence from their comeback, the Blasters need to regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the standings in what is shaping up to be a challenging season.
