Ominous signs? A 5-0 thrashing playing. Aussie import David Williams started with a brace, Roy Krishna joined the fun, then Edu Garcia scored his own double in the last 20 minutes coming in as a sub. Some of the Hyderabad players even forgot to run, chase the ball. Brilliant tactics for come back coach Antonio Habas, who for that matter of fact said that for fans to support the team, players first need to perform. They just opened the gates. Poor effort from the debutants though, starting with ambitious high line. Phil Brown will have a long night. Tomorrow, it will be NorthEast United vs Odisha FC at Guwahati.
Get highlights of ATK vs Hyderabad FC match here:
Full-Time: ATK 5-0 Hyderabad FC
90+5' - One last chase from an ATK player, and with that, it's over. What a night. First home game, and Antonio Habas' boys have just shown they are ready. Their biggest ever home win.
90+4' - GOAL! Second for Edu Garcia and five for ATK. History in the making for the hosts and a night to forget for Hyderabad.
90+2' - Nasty challenge from Sahil Panwar to Komal Thatal near the centre line. From the following play, David Williams goes for the goal. Save for Kamaljit.
90' - Five minutes added. And ATK have suddenly increased the tempo. Going for a five-star performance!
88' - GOAL! Prabir Das then shows his skills and pace. A blistering run on the right flank and releases one for fellow sub Edu Garcia, and the Spaniard finds the back for the eighth time in the league. Four nil.
86' - Komal Thatal gets his sight on the goal after a one-two with two-goal hero David Williams, but gets blocked.
85' - Prabir Das, with no Hyderabad players closing in on him, runs and runs than shoots. But very poor attempt. Sails over the bar.
84' - Future India star Komal Thatal on for ATK. He replaces Roy Krishna.
83' - ATK players are having a stroll in the park, and giving them company are their guests. A game of two contrasting halves.
80' - Michael Soosairaj booked for time-wasting. Acres of space near the final third and ATK player waits and waits to take the throw. A foul too.
74' - Hyderabad are in massive trouble. Giles Barnes is also down after a very bad fall. Visitors are down to nine men. And it's the first game of the season. Pity.
73' - Horrible scenario for Hyderabad. Down to ten men. Nikhil Poojary is stretchered off after taking a tumble. Nasty fall. But ATK are on ascendency again.
70' - Second change for ATK. Edu Garcia on for Javi Hernandez. ATK have so far failed to keep up the momentum.
68' - Augustin Iniguez concedes a free-kick but Stankovic's dead-ball play os very poor and ATK win the ball back to launch a quick counter.
65' - A rare indulgence from Marko Stankovic. He floats in a teasing ball for Giles Barnes, but the Jamaican's header misses the target.
63' - David Williams goes again with a long ranger. Kamaljit Singh blocks it and lands in front of Michael Soosairj, but Hyderabad captain's quick to pounce on the ball.
60' - Dirty work from Robin Singh. On the ball, the Hyderabad front-man waits for Anas Edathodika and elbows the ATK defender. And rightly gets the yellow.
58' - David Williams releases a through ball for Javier Hernandez, but the Spaniard fails to find the space to work on the ball. Meanwhile, the first change for ATK. Pronay Halder on for Jayesh Rana. Moments ago, Hyderabad exhausted that sub. Gani Nigam on for Marcelinho.
54' - Marcelinho is doing everything he can for the team. A good period of play for the visitors.
50' - Just as Hyderabad are trying to settle in, Michael Soosairaj produces a brilliant solo run. But he was found wanting in the final third.
48' - Hyderabad showing the will to fight. Anas Edathodika clears the ball near the near flag post, but from the following play, Prabir Das loses control from a good delivery from Marcelinho. Then, Giles Barnes tries to beat Arindam Bhattacharya, but fails.
46' - Second SUB for Hyderabad. Laldanmawia Ralte on for Ashish Rai.
In a stunning display of high-octane football from Antonio Habas' boys, courtesy their Aussie acquisition David Williams and Fijian Roy Krishna, pump three goals against newbies Hyderabad.
First-Half ATK 3-0 Hyderabad FC
45+2' - Two minutes added. And could have been a hat-trick for David Williams. He just misses a third after getting a brilliant pass from Roy Krishna.
44' - GOAL! What a mess. An opportunist David Williams beats the offside trap than slots home with a brilliant finish. Already a brace for the Aussie. Good release from Jayesh Rane.
43' - Frustration for Hyderabad. Sahil Panwar gets booked for a dangerous kick on the face of Roy Krishna. Trying to clear the ball but committed too much.
40' - Brave run from Marcelinho. Beats a couple of ATK defender, but his backheel pass fails to reach the intended target and ATK launch a quick counter.
37' - Another injury scare for Hyderabad. Sahil Panwar gets himself in a bad position while tussling for the ball. Needed medical attention, but he is fine.
35' - ATK are all over Hyderabad. Kamaljit Singh is forced to produce another flying save.
33' - And it's raining. David Williams almost knocks Asish Rai's head while going for a high ball inside the ATK half. Both are fine. No card.
27' - ANOTHER ONE! This time from Roy Krishna. Just enough to beat Kamaljit. Good attempt from just outside the box.
26' - GOAL! What a run and what a finish from David Williams. He times the run to perfection as Javier Hernandez releases a through ball then beats Kamaljit Singh with a cool finish.
22' - Big saves from Kamaljit Singh. Two brilliant attempts from ATK, but both times -- first against a Jayesh Rane rocket then from Michael Soosairaj -- he skipper pulls off brilliant saves.
22' - On the counter, Hyderabad presents themselves with a chance with Robin Singh winning a corner from a long ball.
19' - Woodwork! Jayesh Rane is everywhere. After a brilliant play from ATK, almost find the back of the net with a brilliant curler from left wing-back Michael Soosairaj. His attempt beats the goalie but hits the far upright.
17' - Horror back pass from Hyderabad, but ATK fail to make the most out of it. In the follow up play, Pritam Kotal barges into an opponent. Poor tackle from ATK skipper. But no card yet.
15' - Jamaican striker gets a nasty hit on the face, then his team-mate Rafael Lopez is off. Hamstrung. Massive blow for the visitors. And change. Marko Stankovic replaced him.
12' - Aussie David Williams tries another long ranger. This time, he manages to test Hyderabad captain Kamaljit Singh.
10' - Chance for ATK. David Williams tries a long ranger, but the attempt fails to hit the target.
6' - Corner for Hyderabad. No danger for ATK though. Marcelinho free-kick is headed away for a corner by Iniguez.
3' - Huge moment early in the match. Hyderabad defender Sahil Panwar brings down Prabir Das. Almost a penalty. No booking either.
1' - Hyderabad defence before laying it for Jayesh Rane. The youngster just misses the target.
7:26 PM IST: Both the teams are out and ready for National Anthem.
7:00 PM IST: Here are the starting XIs: One change for ATK. Pronay Halder, who was booked in the season opener against Kerala Blasters has been benched. Anas Edathodika is his replacement tonight.
ATK (4-2-3-1): Arindam Bhattacharya; Augustin Iniguez, Anas Edathodika, Pritam Kotal (c), Prabir Das; Carl McHugh; Jayesh Rane; David Williams, Javier Hernandez, Michael Soosairaj; Roy Krishna
Hyderabad FC (4-2-3-1): Kamaljit Singh (c); Asish Rai, Gurtej Singh, Matthew Kilgallon, Sahil Panwar; Rafael Lopez Gomes, Adil Khan; Nikhil Pooary, Marcelo Pereira, Giles Barnes; Robin Singh
6:47 PM IST: After two disappointing seasons, ATK spent money to invigorate the squad. They not only brought back the manager who helped them become the inaugural champions, but also roped in Wellington Phoenix pair -- Roy Krishna and David Williams, Michael Soosairaj and Dheeraj Moirangthem. They certainly have the squad to fight for the title, but a lot more will depend on their consistency. For the newbies Hyderabad FC, it will be a trial by fire for them. Phil Brown's boys are still an unknown entity even though most of the players were associated with FC Pune City.
6:10 PM IST: Here are the squads -
ATK: Goalkeepers - Dheeraj Moirangthem, Arindam Bhattacharya, Avilash Paul, Lara; Defenders - Anas Edathodika, Arnab Mondal, Agus Garcia, Ranjan Salam, Sandeep Singh, Anil Chawan, John Johnson, Aiborlang Khongjee, Ankit Mukherjee, Prabir Das, Ricky Lallawmawma, Sena Ralte, Pritam Kotal, Boris Thangjam; Midfielders - Hitesh Sharma, Gopi Yumnam, Cavin Lobo, Carl McHugh, Pronay Halder, Asish Pradhan, Michael Ragin, Sehnaj Singh, Ragav Gupta, Malsawmzuala, Javi Hernandez, Dario Vidosic, Michael Soosairaj; Forwards: Jayesh Rane, Komal Thatal, David Williams, Balwant Singh, Jobby Justin, Roy Krishna, Edu Garcia, H Lalmuankima
Hyderabad FC: Goalkeepers - Laxmikant Kattimani, Kamaljit Singh, Anuj Kumar; Defenders - Gurtej Singh, Mohammad Yasir, Tarif Akhand, Asish Rai, Sahil Panwar, Rafael Lopez Gomez, Matthew Kilgallon; Midfielders - Adil Ahmed Khan, Sahil Tavora, Deependra Negi, Nestor Jesus Benitez, Rohit Kumar, Gani Nigam, Nikhil Poojary, Marko Stankovic, Shankar Sampingiraj, Laldanmawia Ralte; Forwards - Giles Barnes, Marcelo Leite Pereira (Marcelinho), Abhisek Halder, Robin Singh, Deyvison Rogerio Da Silva (Bobo)
Premise:
If ATK strikers can find their scoring touch, much of coach Antonio Lopez Habas’ worries would lessen. Against Kerala Blasters this season, ATK had just one proper shot on goal with five more attempts barely testing the Kerala goalie. Habas wants consistency and balance for a full game.
“I think we have great fitness to play well in the first 40 minutes. That maybe happening because we need more balance in the team. We need to improve with the players. We have seven new players in the team and it is very difficult to create the perfect balance with a new side.” Habas said
Hyderabad FC look good on paper with a clutch of Indian players having the experience of working with head coach Phil Brown earlier.
“When you are a new franchise going into a new league, I think we have a responsibility to play the right kind of football to enhance ISL’s brand. We have no identity yet and we are striving to get one. We have to win over the hearts and bring the excitement to fill the stadiums. We have a big part to play this season and hopefully that starts tomorrow,” Brown said ahead of his team’s ISL debut.
