Hyderabad FC began their 2020-21 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) campaign with a 1-0 win over Odisha FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim yesterday.

Former Odisha frontman Aridane Santana scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the first half as Hyderabad also kept their first-ever clean sheet in league history besides beating Odisha for the first time.

The first chance of the match fell to Hyderabad in the fifth minute when Santana put a free header from a corner wide of the target. Another smartly worked corner by Hyderabad two minutes later ended up testing Odisha’s goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh.

Instead of putting the ball into the box, the corner was spread wide to the edge of the penalty area where Akash Mishra was waiting patiently and unleashed a venomous shot from distance that forced Arshdeep into a save.

Hyderabad were the more enterprising side going forward and seemed assured in their passing. They created another opportunity in the 26th minute when a cross from the right was directed to Santana in the box. Once again, the Spaniard headed wide, this time under pressure from Odisha skipper Steven Taylor.

However, Odisha’s defence finally buckled under Hyderabad’s constant pressure after Manuel Onwu gave the ball away in midfield and that led to a quick break. Halicharan Narzary thought he was going to score from the break with a stinging effort across goal, but his shot struck Taylor’s outstretched hand after the Englishman had gone to ground attempting a block inside the box. Santana obligingly stepped up to the spot and hit the penalty straight down the middle to give his side the lead.

AWARDS — Hero of the Match: Aridane Santana; Club Award: Hyderabad FC; DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Halicharan Narzary (Hyderabad FC).