Hyderabad FC defeated ATK Mohun Bagan 1-0 on Tuesday to clinch a second-place finish in the league stage of the Indian Super League 2023, thanks to a late goal from Bartholomew Ogbeche.
In the 86th minute of the Indian Super League match between Hyderabad FC and ATK Mohun Bagan at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, substitute Bart Ogbeche scored the game’s only goal to give Hyderabad FC the victory by a score of 1-0.
In the closing fifteen minutes of play, Manolo Marquez used the best trick up his sleeve by bringing in the star forward from Nigeria, who scored his 61st ISL goal to secure all three points for the defending champions and guarantee their spot in the playoffs this year.
Match Summary
With 36 points from 17 games—11 wins, three draws, and three losses— Hyderabad entered the game in second place on the table. On the other hand, ATK Mohun Bagan wanted to win their away game to improve their chances of making the playoffs. With 28 points from their 17 games, the mariners entered the contest in fourth place in the league rankings. This season, they held out for draws on four occasions while losing five games and winning eight.
Manolo Marques and Juan Ferrando used every trick in the book to try to outplay one other in the game, which, as was to be expected, ended in a fantastic football spectacle. Javi Siverio’s strength and Joel Chianese’s speed put Hyderabad on the offensive early on, forcing the Mariners to settle back.
After moving toward the middle of the field from the right flank two minutes into the game, Mohammad Yasir saw Vishal Kaith deny his long-range attempt at full stretch. This gave Hyderabad FC a strong start. However, the side failed to generate clear chances because the goalkeeper was mostly untested for the first 45 minutes.
In the first half, Hyderabad only attempted two shots, but in the first five minutes of the second half, they managed four. Joel Chianese’s glancing header from Yasir’s free-kick four minutes after the hour mark was on target but went straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
A last-second goal from Ogbeche makes Mohun Bagan’s journey to the playoffs difficult
Ogbeche came onto the field to take Siverio’s place in the 79th minute. The unorthodox Obgeche startled the ATKMB defense with his artistry on top of the circle seven minutes after entering the game. In the 86th minute, he received a precise cross from the left flank at the top of the circle, he maneuvered past the defender Damjanovic to attempt a right-footer that caught the opposing goalkeeper off-guard and resulted in a beautiful goal.
Ogbeche’s eighth goal of the season gave Hyderabad a stunning victory and three points, setting up celebrations among teammates, supporters, and the small but raucous crowd. The reigning champions, who had already qualified for the playoffs, now intended to continue their winning ways into the crucial play-off rounds by winning their final three games.
On the other hand, ATK Mohun Bagan made a tremendous comeback in the last few seconds but was unable to reach the net. The defeat dealt another blow to ATKMB, who have now scored just three goals in their last six games and have dropped into the lower half of the playoff race after previously being in the running for the top three.
They will be disappointed because they have only managed to earn one point in their last three games, but if they want to advance to the playoffs, they will need to get back on track and win their remaining games.