Southern rivals strive to strike back after recent defeats

| | Kochi
  • 0

Southern rivals strive to strike back after recent defeats

Thursday, 07 November 2024 | PTI | Kochi

Southern rivals Kerala Blasters FC and Hyderabad FC will seek a turnaround in their fortunes when they locks horns in the Indian Super League here on Thursday, having suffered reverses lately.

Kerala Blasters FC and Hyderabad FC currently stand at the 10th and 11th spots in the points table -- coming into this match on the back of defeats to Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant respectively.

This match gives them a chance to fix things up and get their respective seasons back on track.

The wind can be said to be swaying in the favour of the Kerala Blasters, as the Kochi-based outfit has won three out of their last four matches against Hyderabad FC. However, they have never won thrice in a row in front of the visitors, presenting this match as an unprecedented opportunity for them to do so.

Hyderabad FC will be eyeing points on the road to build upon one win and draw each that they have accumulated in ISL 2024-25.

Kerala Blasters FC have found the back of the net in each of their previous 14 ISL matches at home. They have struck at least twice in eight of those games, and only Chennaiyin FC, Delhi Dynamos FC and Bengaluru FC (16 games each) have gone on longer such runs in the competition.

With the power-packed attacking duo of Noah Sadaoui and Adrian Luna in their ranks, the Mikael Stahre-coached team is all set to delight the home fans further with their offensive firepower this term.

Simultaneously, Kerala Blasters FC have not kept a clean sheet in their previous 18 consecutive matches in the league. This is the joint second-longest such sequence in the ISL, along with FC Goa and Hyderabad FC, with only NorthEast United FC having conceded goals in a longer stretch of matches.

It might prove out to be difficult for the team to climb up the league ladder unless they set their backline in order.

Hyderabad FC had snapped their four-game-long losing streak on the road by triumphing over Mohammedan SC by 4-0 in their previous away match.

That win must have infused greater belief in them to produce similar such performances in unfamiliar conditions, and the offensive cohesion displayed by Hyderabad FC will keep the Kerala Blasters FC defence in check as well.

Hyderabad FC have ended up conceding at least a goal each in seven out of their last nine away fixtures. They have been defeated in all those games, and in fact won the two matches when they kept a clean sheet, drawing a clear parallel between defensive discipline and a greater possibility of them capturing the three points.

State Editions

11 killed in Hardoi road mishap

07 November 2024 | PNS | Lucknow

Yogi to inaugurate Akanksha Haat

07 November 2024 | PNS | Lucknow

Prashant Kumar likely to made permanent DGP

07 November 2024 | Preetam Srivastava | Lucknow

Mobility crisis is behind pollution in city: CSE

07 November 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Delhi’s air quality ‘very poor’, smog blankets city

07 November 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Sunday Edition

The comeback man

03 November 2024 | Gyaneshwar Dayal | Agenda

DINING REDEFINED! WYNN MACAU DEBUTS DRUNKEN FISH

03 November 2024 | RUPALI DEAN | Agenda

Oktoberfest on a Platter

03 November 2024 | Sharmila Chand | Agenda

Vegan Wonders: Where to Eat Next!

03 November 2024 | Team Agenda | Agenda

LIVING IT UP IN AN AIRBNB IN LONDON

03 November 2024 | AKANKSHA DEAN | Agenda

Srisailam: A journey to spiritual splendour

03 November 2024 | VISHESH SHUKLA | Agenda