Panaji: Punjab FC has ascended to the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 points table following a commanding 2-0 win against Hyderabad FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. This victory marks Punjab's third consecutive win of the season, solidifying their status as early contenders and delighting their fanbase.
The match began cautiously, with both teams feeling out of the game in the first ten minutes. However, the first real opportunity came from Hyderabad’s Ramhlunchhunga, whose long-range effort tested Punjab goalkeeper Ravi Kumar. This moment seemed to ignite Punjab FC, who quickly increased their intensity.
In the 17th minute, a crucial error by Hyderabad’s Leander D’Cunha allowed Filip Mrzljak to intercept a misplayed pass in the danger area. Although Mrzljak was poised to score, Arshdeep Singh in goal denied him with a strong save. This near miss galvanized Punjab, with Ezequiel Vidal emerging as a key playmaker. He created several chances for Mrzljak and Ivan Novoselec, but both failed to capitalize.
Vidal’s efforts paid off in the 35th minute when he struck a stunning freekick that sailed past Arshdeep, giving Punjab the lead. The goal was a testament to Punjab's relentless push for dominance, as they consistently pressured the Hyderabad defence.
In the second half, Hyderabad FC sought to equalize, with Ramhlunchhunga and Parag Shrivas coming close. Despite controlling possession, Hyderabad struggled to penetrate the Punjab defence. In a strategic move, coach Panagiotis Dilmperis introduced young talents Leon Augustine and Ricky Shabong to inject energy into the attack. Ricky, however, squandered a golden opportunity to score shortly after his arrival.
Punjab FC extended their lead in the 71st minute with a well-executed counterattack. Mrzljak received the ball after a blocked shot from Mushaga Bakenga and calmly slotted it into the net, sealing the match for Punjab.
Things took a turn for the worse for Hyderabad in the 78th minute when Leander was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle on Ricky, leaving his team down to ten men.
As the final whistle blew, Punjab FC celebrated their first clean sheet at home this season, a notable achievement given their struggle with defensive consistency. Prior to this match, they had not kept a clean sheet in eight consecutive home games, with their only clean sheet in ISL history being a 1-0 victory against Chennaiyin FC last December.
