Durand Cup: Hyderabad FC defeat TRAU 2-0

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 22 (EMN): Indian Super League (ISL) champions Hyderabad FC (HFC) began their 131st IndianOil Durand Cup campaign with a dominating 2-0 win over local favourites Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) FC at the Khuman Lampak main stadium in Imphal on Monday.

This was TRAU’s second successive loss in the tournament. The team lost to rivals NEROCA 1-3 in their opening game on August 18.

The HFC team was cheered by locals wearing yellow jerseys as their star players Mohammed Yasir and Chinglensana are from Manipur.

In the Group C encounter in Monday’s first game, HFC scored two splendid goals through Halicharan Narzary in the 27th minute and Borja Herrera in the 52nd minute to seal three points.

Initially TRAU FC started the brighter of the two sides. They controlled possession and looked for openings in the HFC defense.

However, once they did, they started to stitch passes together and created chances. The first real chance came for HFC when Mohammed Yasir’s shot was directed straight at the keeper.

They took the lead in the 27th minute through a quality Halicharan Narzaray strike. It was Spaniard Borja’s pressing that forced an error from the TRAU midfield and the loose ball was latched on to by Halicharan, who curled a spectacular shot from a distance into the top right corner of the post.

HFC slowed down the game after the goal but there was a lack of intention from the home players to get back the ball as well as the goal seemed to have deflated them.

The second goal also came through a screamer in the 52nd minute through Borja, who was rightly declared the man of the match. Mohammed Yasir found him from the right and the Spaniard took a sublime first touch to then produce a left footed scorcher into the top corner.HFC continued to maintain total control of the game and created a host of chances but couldn’t convert.

Hyderabad FC will face Chennaiyin FC on August 26 and TRAU will face Army Red Football Team on August 28. Chennaiyin FC and Army Red played out a draw in their first match.