(Football news) Hyderabad FC overcame Odisha in the Indian Super League with a brilliant second half performance to win 3-2 at the Tilak Maidan on Thursday. The Kalinga Warriors opened the scoring in the 45th minute through Jerry Mawihmingthanga but three second half goals from Joel Chianese (51st), Joao Victor (70th) and Akash Mishra (73rd) ensured the Nizams secured all three points. Odisha managed to pull a goal back through Jonathas Cristian in the 84th minute but it wasn’t enough to salvage the game. The result meant that Odisha FC remained in seventh place on the ISL table while Hyderabad FC maintained their lead on top of the table with 23 points from 13 games.

Both sides had a cautious approach after kick off with clear cut chances few and far between for the two sides. Hyderabad FC’s Joao Victor saw his effort go wide off target while Arshdeep Singh was forced to make a good save from top-scorer Bartholomew Ogbeche. Joel Chianese couldn’t find the target from Nikhil Poojary’s corner while Victor Mongil blocked Ogbeche’s attempt at the half-hour mark. Despite not testing Hyderabad FC’s Laxmikant Kattimani, Odisha FC did manage to find a breakthrough in the 45th minute through Jerry Mawihmingthanga who turned in a low cross from Nandhakumar Sekar into the back of the net.

Despite creating more chances, Hyderabad FC found themselves trailing by a goal at half-time but Manolo Marquez’s team started the second half all guns blazing. It just took six minutes for the Nizams to draw level as Akash Mishra’s cross was met by Chianese and found the back of the net. With the game level, Odisha FC tried to get back into the lead as Jerry attempted to score from distance when the keeper was off his line but didn’t succeed. Hyderabad FC managed to get a lead through Joao Victor who received a pass from Asish Rai and found the back of the net.

With momentum on their side, Hyderabad FC made it 3-1 just a few minutes later as Yasir Mohammad’s delivery from a freekick found Mishra whose flick went past the keeper. Just when it seemed that the game had already slipped away from Odisha FC’s grasp, Jonathas managed to reduce the deficit to one goal after his powerful shot went past Kattimani in the 84th minute. However, it was too little too late for Odisha FC who couldn’t manage another goal and succumbed to a defeat. Hyderabad FC will next face NorthEast United on Monday, 31st January at the Fatorda Stadium while Odisha FC will take on FC Goa on Tuesday, 1st February at the GMC Athletic Stadium.

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