PANAJI
FC Goa will look to build on the solid start to their Indian Super League 2022-23 campaign when they lock horns with Hyderabad FC on Saturday.
This would be their third away assignment of the season, coming on the back of successful outings against East Bengal and Chennaiyin. Their second win against the Marina Machans had taken the Gaurs to first place in the standings, before being replaced by Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC in the past few days. A victory against the Nizams will see Carlos Pena and Co return to the top spot once again.
Hyderabad, meanwhile, have also begun their campaign on a positive note as well. They are one of the only three teams yet to suffer a defeat in the league, the other two being Goa and Mumbai City FC.
Having drawn their first assignment against the Islanders, Manolo Marquez’s boys beat NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC in the next two matches. As they play yet another home match against the Gaurs on Saturday, they will be keen to extend their unbeaten run in front of their fans.
The Gaffer speaks
Ahead of the clash, FC Goa head coach Pena revealed why the right start was important for his side. “The (previous) victories were important - especially for the players who were with the Club last season, because back then they didn’t win as many games as they’d have wanted. Now, they’ve come to realize that they’re surely good players, and the six points have improved their confidence,” he said. “Hyderabad FC are a strong team and have successfully managed to retain most of their core set of players and the head coach for over two seasons now.
“Hence, when I see the team, I see a solid, competitive outfit. That, however, doesn’t change things, as we’re going there to try and return with a win, by playing to our strengths,” the 38-year-old further added.
In East Bengal and Chennaiyin, FC Goa had opponents that mostly preferred to sit back and play on the counter. The story could be entirely different against Hyderabad FC, who have a playing style similar to that of the Gaurs. Both teams like to keep possession of the ball and to build play up from the back. Led by two Spaniards in Pena and Marquez, the footballing philosophy of the two sides also draw influence from the Iberian nation.
That said, Goa and Hyderabad have their differences too. The Men in Orange are a relatively new-look side with a new head coach and a string of new players. At the same time, the Nizams have retained their core set of players. Manolo Marquez, the head coach, has also been working with the club for over two seasons now.
The 54-year-old knows his team inside out, which may seem to give him an edge over his FC Goa counterpart. Carlos Pena, on the other hand, has an advantage of his own as a former ISL star who knows the league and its demands well.
With Bartholomew Ogbeche and Joao Victor in good form, Hyderabad FC are optimistic about a win. Add the likes of Mohammed Yasir, Hitesh Sharma, Halicharan Narzary and Javier Siverio to the mix and the club boasts of an attacking lineup which is one of the best in the league. FC Goa’s defence surely have their task cut out to keep them at bay on the hunt for the three points.
The Gaurs’ attacking department, meanwhile, are no less promising. Alvaro Vazquez led Kerala Blasters all the way to the final last season, and Iker Guarrotxena troubled both East Bengal and Chennaiyin with his marauding runs and defence-splitting passes. Noah Sadaoui, Redeem Tlang and Brandon Fernandes add more firepower to the side - scoring goals should hence not be a problem for them.
