ISL: Hyderabad FC ride on Paulista’s brace to beat Mohammedan SC 4-0

Mohammedan SC player Mirjalol Kasimov, centre, and Hyderabad FC players vie for the ball during Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 match between Hyderabad FC and Mohammedan SC, at Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Pic/PTI

A brace of goals by Allan Paulista and one each from Stefan Sapic and Parag Shrivas helped Hyderabad FC hammer Mohammedan SC 4-0 to register their first win of the 2024-25 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday. On a night in which the hosts took the field in search of their maiden home win, Paulista scored a brilliant brace with Sapic and Shrivas also joining the goal-scoring bonanza.

Thangboi Singto's men initiated the groundwork for a brilliant win when Allan Paulista capitalized on Padam Chettri's mistake to hand the visitors an early lead in the fourth minute. The Brazilian was lurking in the penalty area when Padam failed to clear his lines following a pass from Florent Ogier.

Paulista saw the opportunity and tucked it past the goalkeeper. Hyderabad FC piled more pressure on Mohammedan SC's backline and they were duly rewarded in the 12th minute when Stefan Sapic rose the highest to head home the second goal from a Cy Goddard corner.

Hyderabad FC's onslaught kept going as the hosts were unable to match their intensity and left acres of space in midfield. Three minutes after the second goal, Paulista added another to his tally after Parag Shrivas found the Brazilian unmarked in the final third.

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The 25-year-old hammered the ball home, beating Padam all ends up. Hyderabad FC scripted history as they raced to a 3-0 lead in just 14 minutes and 38 seconds which is the second-fastest in ISL history. Hyderabad FC could have extended their lead when Andrei Alba found himself in space right at the edge of the penalty area. But the Brazilian scuffed his shot wide.

In the first half, Mohammedan SC were slower to react to second balls, they left plenty of space while defending and lacked that spark in attack. Despite having the lion's share of possession they went into the break trailing 3-0 at home.

The second half saw Mohammedan SC tactician Andrey Chernyshov turn to his bench as he brought on Cesar Manzoki, Mohammed Irshad, and Makan Chothe to solidify all three departments. Despite the changes, the visitors added another goal to their scoresheet in the 51st minute when Parag Shrivas combined with Alba to produce a long-range missile. The young defender swerved the ball straight into the top right corner, leaving Padam and Mohammedan SC backline completely bamboozled. It was a special moment for the youngster as he scored his maiden ISL goal.

Right after conceding their fourth goal, the hosts had a great chance to pull one back when Manzoki found himself in space in the box but his subsequent effort struck the post. Later Bikash Singh saw his chance go begging following Alexis Gomez's excellent cross.

In the last 20 minutes of the game, Mohammedan SC threw bodies forward in search of goals but unfortunately, it was just not their night as Hyderabad FC registered their second clean sheet and first win of the season.

After this win, Hyderabad FC will host Mohun Bagan Super Giant on October 30. Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC will be in action again in the Kolkata Derby against East Bengal on November 9 in an away fixture.

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