Hyderabad FC 1-1 Bengaluru FC: 3 Reasons why the defending champions only managed a draw | ISL 2019-20

2. Hyderabad dig deep into their resilient reserves in the second half

Robin Singh popped up with the equaliser

Hyderabad FC started the game extremely tentatively and went behind after just a couple of minutes, meaning most of their pre-match plans had been thrown out of the window, courtesy a string of elementary errors.

The visitors offered them little respite throughout the remainder of the first period as they kept attacking and carving open the home side. However, Phil Brown’s men managed to stave off those threats till half-time, thereby according their manager a chance to tweak things and inspire a comeback.

However, despite starting the second half slightly better, Sahil Panwar’s red card meant that the hosts were thrown under immense strife, especially considering Bengaluru’s propensity to keep the ball brilliantly.

Yet, Hyderabad refused to wilt under pressure and they hung in there, waiting for the right opportunity to come about. And, when it eventually did in stoppage time, they ensured that it didn’t go begging as Robin made the net ripple.

Ashish Rai, who replaced Laldanmawia Ralte, looked bright throughout his short stint on the pitch and was hugely influential in the equaliser.

The former got goal-side of Nishu with an expertly-timed run and then displayed the requisite composure to take a touch and fire a shot at goal. His strike was blocked by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu but the keeper only parried it into Robin’s path.

Thus, despite being second best for a majority of the encounter, Hyderabad somehow managed to emerge with a point from the rubble. And, though Bengaluru played a huge role in the sides sharing the spoils, one would be extremely naïve to overlook the character portrayed by the hosts.