In an exciting match at the Kalinga Stadium on Sunday, January 14, 2024, Australian player Dimitrios Petratos emerged as the hero for Mohun Bagan Super Giants. With his last-minute penalty, the team pulled off a thrilling victory, their second straight in Group A of the Kalinga Super Cup.
A tenacious Hyderabad FC team took the lead early on and showed resiliency throughout the game against Mohun Bagan. The Kolkata giants proved tenacious and won all three points in spite of the early setback, increasing their lead to six points from two games. On the other side, Hyderabad FC has now lost both of their group stage matches and is in danger of being eliminated.
Hyderabad FC took the lead early in the match by taking advantage of a misunderstanding between Brendan Michael Hamill of Mohun Bagan and custodian Arsh Anwar Shaikh. The underdogs took the lead early on when Ramhlunchhunga scored a goal in the sixth minute, taking advantage of a defensive lapse. Hyderabad FC managed to generate more good chances in the first half, even though Mohun Bagan had the bulk of the possession.
Hyderabad FC, who used an all-Indian lineup, was a continual threat, especially when they attacked from the wings. In the 25th minute, Abdul Rabeeh A K forced an outstanding save out of the Mohun Bagan custodian, and in the first half, Chhunga—who was named Man of the Match—made multiple attempts to get past the opposition’s defence. Mohun Bagan struggled to generate clear-cut opportunities in the attacking third, even though Petratos saved a freekick in the 24th minute.
The game’s dynamics changed in the second half as Mohun Bagan applied more pressure and Hyderabad FC took a more defensive stance in an attempt to take advantage of counterattack opportunities. To the dismay of the Mohun Bagan supporters, Suhail’s excellent ball into the penalty area in the 50th minute just missed Cummings. Moments later, Hugo Boumous wasted a fantastic chance when he fired a close-range attempt over the crossbar.
The Kolkata giants did not let up, and Kiyan Nassiri was causing Hyderabad FC problems from the left flank. Kattimani, Hyderabad’s custodian, made crucial saves from long-range shots by Raj Basfore in the 66th minute and Petrotas in the 70th minute, keeping his team in the game.
Hyderabad FC was reduced to 10 men in the 84th minute after their captain, Nim Dorjee Tamang, was sent off for disobedience. The already strong Hyderabad defence was under additional strain as a result of this turn of events.
When substitute Jeremy unintentionally scored an own goal in the 88th minute while trying to clear the ball, Mohun Bagan’s persistent efforts eventually paid off. This balanced the score and created tension for the exciting conclusion. After Boumous was fouled by Mark Zothanpuia inside the penalty area, the referee awarded Mohun Bagan a crucial penalty two minutes later.
Recognised for maintaining his cool under pressure, Dimitrios Petratov took the penalty. With a composed and accurate finish into the bottom left corner, Petratov ended Hyderabad’s hopes and gave Mohun Bagan three vital points.
In conclusion, the game between Hyderabad FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giants showed off how unpredictable football can be and gave fans a rollercoaster of a ride. The Kolkata Giants proved their tenacity and willpower by coming back from an early deficit to win a thrilling game. However, despite their best efforts, Hyderabad FC was eventually overcome by their opponents’ constant pressure.
Mohun Bagan Super Giants Starting XI
Arsh, Raj, Hamill(C), D. Petratos, Boumous, Kiyan, Hector Yuste, Glan, Cummings, Rai, Suhail
Hyderabad FC Starting XI
Kattimani, Sajad, Hitesh, Chote, Sailo, Nim (C), Manoj, Alex Saji, Chhungahmar, Rabeeh, Mark ZO
