Hyderabad FC punished Kerala Blasters for their defensive lapses, with a clinical 4-0 win in the ISL 2020-21 match at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa.
Needing a win to enter the top-four, the Nizams started the match on a cautious note, but came into their own in the second. Kerala were on top for the majority of the opening half, registering four shots on target compared to Hyderabad's zero.
A howler from Kerala keeper Albino Gomes in the 21st minute almost gifted Hyderabad the opener. He made a mess while attempting to clear a long ball before Costa Nhamoinesu cleared it out of danger.
Seconds later, another big chance went begging for the Nizams. Victor whipped a teasing cross in the box for Santana, who blazed his header over the bar.
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While Hyderabad eventually grew in the game, a defensive mistake from them in the 39th minute almost handed Kerala the opening goal. Prasanth Karuthadathkuni pounced on a miscued backward pass by Akash Mishra before firing a shot that went straight to Hyderabad custodian Laxmikant Kattimani.
Hyderabad looked livelier towards the end of the first half but it only showed when Joel Chianese shifted from the flanks towards the middle. However, inefficiency in the final third from both sides meant that the scoreline remained goalless at the break.
Hyderabad managed to break the deadlock in the 58th minute, when Kerala Blasters defender Bakary Kone messed up a regular clearance and the ball fell to Fran Sandaza who slotted it home.
Kone was the culprit once again, when five minutes later, he played poor back back to custodian Gomes, who had to rush out and, in the process, fouled Chianese inside the box. Sandaza cooly converted the penalty.
Kerala Blasters' nightmare did not end there as their weakness against set-pieces was brutally exposed twice in the final minutes of the game. First, an unmarked Aridane Santana headed past a helpless Gomes in the 86th minute. Then, in the injury time, Joao Victor pushed a weak save from Gomes into the goal to complete the rout.
Hyderabad FC are now in the third position with 27 points, while Blasters are officially out of the play-off race, with only 16 points.
(With PTI inputs)
