In a thrilling encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, Punjab FC ascended to the summit of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 points table with a commanding 2-0 victory against Hyderabad FC on Wednesday. This win marks a significant milestone for Punjab FC as they maintain a perfect start to the season, winning their first three games. The triumph was powered by goals from Ezequiel Vidal and Filip Mrzljak, who played pivotal roles in delivering joy to the home crowd.
The match started on a tentative note, with both sides taking time to find their rhythm. The first ten minutes saw Hyderabad FC and Punjab FC cautiously trying to settle into the game. But in the 12th minute, Hyderabad’s Ramhlunchhunga fired a long-range effort that tested Punjab FC goalkeeper Ravi Kumar. That early scare appeared to jolt Punjab into action, as they began to dominate possession and create chances.
In the 17th minute, a misplaced pass by Leander D’Cunha in a dangerous area gifted Punjab’s Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak a golden opportunity to open the scoring. However, Hyderabad’s goalkeeper, Arshdeep Singh, managed to deny the midfielder’s close-range attempt.
From there, Punjab FC shifted into high gear, with Vidal orchestrating attacks and creating several chances. In quick succession, he set up Mrzljak and Ivan Novoselec, though neither could convert their chances. In the 27th minute, Vidal took matters into his own hands, launching a powerful shot from distance that narrowly missed the target. Moments later, he delivered a pinpoint pass to Nihal Sudeesh, whose shot was expertly saved by Arshdeep, preventing what looked like a certain goal.
The breakthrough finally came in the 35th minute when Vidal unleashed a swerving free-kick from outside the box, leaving Arshdeep with no chance as the ball curled into the net. It was a well-deserved reward for Punjab FC’s relentless pressure and their star playmaker’s outstanding first-half performance.
As the second half kicked off, Hyderabad FC sought an equalizer with renewed vigor. Both Ramhlunchhunga and Parag Shrivas had efforts that came close, but they lacked the precision to break down Punjab’s solid defense. Hyderabad dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances in the final third, with Punjab’s defensive unit holding firm.
In the 59th minute, Punjab FC’s head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis introduced two young talents, Leon Augustine and Ricky Shabong, in an effort to inject fresh energy into the game. Shabong, in particular, almost doubled Punjab’s lead with a close-range header just minutes after coming on, but the ball sailed wide.
Punjab FC finally secured their second goal in the 71st minute, thanks to Mrzljak, who initiated a counterattack with a clever pass to Mushaga Bakenga. Although Bakenga’s shot was blocked by Hyderabad’s Muhammed Rafi, the rebound fell kindly to Mrzljak, who coolly slotted the ball into the net, putting the game beyond Hyderabad’s reach.
Hyderabad FC’s woes deepened in the 78th minute when Leander D’Cunha was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Ricky Shabong, reducing them to ten men. This red card all but ended Hyderabad’s hopes of staging a comeback.
The victory was particularly sweet for Punjab FC, as they managed to keep their first clean sheet at home in the ISL after eight games without one. Their previous clean sheet in the competition at home came in December 2023 in a 1-0 victory against Chennaiyin FC.
Filip Mrzljak was undoubtedly the standout player of the match, contributing both offensively and defensively. He not only scored the second goal but also completed all 20 of his passes and created five scoring opportunities for his teammates, cementing his role as the key figure in Punjab’s midfield.
Punjab FC will next face Bengaluru FC away on October 18, while Hyderabad FC will be looking to bounce back when they host Chennaiyin FC on October 1 for their Matchweek 4 fixture.
Final Score: Punjab FC – 2 (Ezequiel Vidal 35’, Filip Mrzljak 71’)
Hyderabad FC – 0
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