ISL 2021-22: Hyderabad FC’s efficiency in front of the goal won them the game, says Des Buckingham

Mumbai City FC head coach Des Buckingham admitted that Hyderabad FC’s efficiency in front of the goal won them the game at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda on Saturday. Hyderabad stunned the Islanders by 3-1 as Manolo Marquez’s men were able to grab their chances with both hands.

In fact, the defending champions were the first to take the lead as Jahouh scored early in the sixth minute of the game. However, it didn’t take long for Hyderabad to bounce back stronger as Joao MJT scored through a penalty in the 13th minute of the game.

Subsequently, Manolo Marquez’s men took the lead in the 53rd minute when their linchpin striker Bartholomew Ogbeche scored. Youngster Rohit Danu then put the match to bed as he found the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

In fact, Mumbai City FC dominated the possession with 60% but it was Hyderabad FC who took their chances better than the defending champions.

Des Buckingham said in the post-match press conference, “We had a lot of possession but we needed to be a lot more effective to come around the edge of the box and create chances that we want to create. The game got quite transitional at a point with a lot of fouls for both sides. It became a bit broken. But I wouldn’t say that anything went wrong massively it was just that Hyderabad FC took their chances and we didn’t”.

Mumbai was beaten by 3-1 and Buckingham didn’t expect it to be the final scoreline as it ended at 1-1 after the half-time whistle.

The Islanders manager added, “I didn’t expect the scoreline, I expected a tough game against a very good Hyderabad FC team and that’s certainly what I think we got. I thought it was a pretty even game at 1-1 going into half-time. It was pretty fair and then we had the large proportion of the game where we dominated ball possession, played a lot of passes and created chance but it was Hyderabad FC who took theirs and that decided the game”.

Mumbai will next play against previous season runners-up ATK Mohun Bagan and Buckingham revealed that they won’t get carried away as they know they will face a stiff challenge.

Buckingham concluded, “It won’t be difficult for us. We didn’t get carried away when we won last week. So no one will get carried away after we lost this game. So we will prepare the players in the same way and we look forward to that game”.

Image Credit: Mumbaicityfc.com