ISL 2020-21: Late Liston Colaco double gives Hyderabad FC win over NorthEast United

Deepak Malik/ Sportzpics for ISL

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Hyderabad FC have moved to third in the ISL table after an emphatic 4-2 win over NorthEast United at Vasco on Friday. First half goals from Aridane Santana (3') and Joel Chianese (36') were cancelled out by Federico Gallego (45') and Benjamin Lambot (45'+2'), before a late second half from Liston Colaco (85', 90') sealed the win for Hyderabad. NorthEast are now winless in six.

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Hyderabad came roaring off the blocks, with the early goal a highlight of a strong start. A lovely run from Chianese, sidestepping three defenders, set up a poacher's finish from Santana to make it six for the season for the Spaniard. NEUFC were a constant threat moving forward, though, with Idrissa Sylla missing from five yards with a free header. VP Suhair then saw a belter of a long-range attempt cannon off the post and bounce out of danger.

Hyderabad's high press, though, paid off for the second goal. Left back Akash Mishra pressured Lambot into making an error before finding Chianese just outside the box. He in turn danced in, and with the NEUFC defenders inexplicably standing off him, finished low into the bottom corner.

Then, a controversial and dramatic finish to the half.

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First, a penalty was awarded to Ashutosh Mehta after Halicharan Narzary brought him down. The infringement appeared to have occurred just outside the box, but the referee adjudged it to be a penalty. Gallego smashed it straight down the middle.

The equaliser was equally controversial - after sloppy play by Hyderabad's defence saw five unmaked NEUFC players bearing down on Laxmikant Kattimani's goal. Kattimani saved Sylla's first attempt, did well to stop Gallego's second but was helpless after Lambot stabbed home in the confusion.

With the game meandering toward a draw in the second half, on came Liston Colaco at the hour mark. He injected pace into the game, but it was only in the 85th minute that it all paid off. A lovely touch beat a marker, a drop of the shoulder send another skedaddling away, a quick shuffle of the feet saw a third beaten and then a powerful finish with his left foot to the far top corner.

With NEUFC pouring forward in search of an equaliser, Colaco sealed the deal, running onto a clever assist from Santana and placing an accurate low finish into the bottom corner.

Third place Hyderabad now have a bit of a break, and will face table-toppers Mumbai on the 16th. NorthEast, stagnant in seventh, now face Bengaluru FC on the 12th.