Hyderabad FC 1-1 Jamshedpur FC: 5 Hits and Flops | ISL 2019-20

Hyderabad FC, like many times before, conceded a late equalizer to settle for a 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur FC at the G.M.C Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad.

The hosts created chances regularly and sealed their domination over the game with Nestor Gordillo's strike in the 39th minute. Throughout the first half, the front trio of Gordillo-Bobo-Marcelinho kept visiting the opposition box and forced saves from the Jamshedpur custodian Rafique Ali.

Jamshedpur faced another setback when they had to replace Sergio Castel after the striker limped off for half-time. This move took away all of JFC's creativity in the attacking third and looked content to return with no points from Hyderabad. However, the game that went out of action had a turn in fortunes in the late minutes when Sumeet Passi flicked Noe Acosta's free-kick into the back of the net.

The stoppage-time equalizer shattered Hyderabad's hopes of breaking their thirteen-run winless streak and registering their second win of the season. With the late goal, HFC now have the record of conceding most goals in a single season - 38.

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#5 Hit - Nestor Gordillo

Nestor Gordillo made 37 passes and took 3 shots on target (Image: ISL)

Nestor Gordillo, after seven games and eleven shots into the season, finally broke the deadlock to score against Jamshedpur FC. Marko Stankovic tried to find Marcelinho inside the box, only to be intercepted by Joyner Lourenco. However, the ball fell graciously on Nestor's legs and, the midfielder beat Aitor Monroy to shoot on target.

The Spaniard was a menace in the Jamshedpur defence throughout the game. He tried to find Bobo in dangerous positions and was behind numerous key balls into the box. Nestor's Brazilian striking partner had a golden chance to double the lead after he found the latter, unmarked inside the box, with a long-ball from near the center-line.

The 30-year-old had his second-best chance in the game a few minutes after the restart. Nestor's left-footed shot was kept out by Rafique Ali's diving save.

The former Chennai City player made 37 passes and took 3 shots on target before being substituted in the 76th minute.

#4 Flop - CK Vineeth

CK Vineeth (Image: ISL)

A very miserable takeaway for Jamshedpur FC even after this game is CK Vineeth's poor run of form. The 31-year-old hasn't found his feet with the Red Miners even after nine games in the season.

The attacker started the game on the right-wing but was kept silent for most of the time by Nikhil Poojary. A move into the second-striker position, later in the game, didn't do the Keralite much good.

Vineeth, despite getting into crucial areas, took too much time on the ball and often failed to keep the ball under control with his first touch. The former Kerala Blasters player couldn't link-up with Sergio Castel or David Grande for any part of the game.

With only 38 touches on the ball and not even a single shot, Vineeth was one of the weakest players in Jamshedpur's system tonight.

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#3 Hit - Marko Stankovic

Marko Stankovic (Image: ISL)

Marko Stankovic was once again a standout performer for HFC. The central midfielder took up the role of carrying balls forward and ensured ample supply to the three attacking players before him.

At the end of the game, Stankovic had 62 passes at an accuracy of 65% and created four chances. With four shots and three tackles, the Austrian player made his presence felt at both ends of the pitch.

The 33-year-old made a perfect connection between Nestor Gordillo, Marcelinho and Bobo, and was the man behind most of the balls that went into the Jamshedpur box. In a season with very little positives, Stankovic has been a ray of hope for the league's newbies.

#2 Flop - David Grande

David Grande [centre] (Image: ISL)

Like CK Vineeth, David Grande too deserves blame for Jamshedpur's below-par attacking display. The Spanish forward had a very minimal impact on the game and could never inject the required pace the visitors lacked throughout the 90 minutes.

Grande was assigned additional duties after half-time as Sergio Castel was substituted with an injury concern. The 29-year-old, however, had very little to do for the entirety of the game. The striker never really explored areas in the attacking third and was easily robbed off the ball when inside the box.

At the end of 90 minutes, David Grande had 35 touches on the ball, took one shot, and made 26 passes at an accuracy of 50%.

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#1 Hit - Sumeet Passi

Sumeet Passi had a good outing with six tackles, ten clearances, and three interceptions. (Image: ISL)

Sumeet Passi had been a striker for most of his career, until shifting to left-back under Antonio Iriondo. However, against Hyderabad FC, the makeshift full-back fulfilled the duties of a defender, as well as a striker, scoring a very late equalizer for his side.

In the 88th minute, Noe Acosta whipped in a free-kick from the right, which beat Laxmikant Kattimani into the back of the net. But, the referee spotted Sumeet Passi's push on the keeper and disallowed the goal. Five minutes later, it was Passi's time to compensate as he flicked a header past Kattimani, again from Acosta's set-piece delivery.

Even on the defensive note, the Indian international had a good outing with six tackles, ten clearances, and three interceptions.

So far, it seems like Passi has adapted to the new role and might turn out to be an asset if he can don the role of a goal-scoring defender.