Shahi Hyderabad’s Rainy Day Victory: A Slippery Showdown at Fateh Maidan!

Under a relentless monsoon downpour, Shahi Hyderabad secured a commanding 3-0 victory against Karak of the West, leaving the drenched crowd of 1,270 soaked but satisfied at Fateh Maidan.

Fatih Maidan, Hyderabad

First Half: Mud, Missed Chances, and... More Mud

The game began with Shahi Hyderabad asserting dominance, as the rain-soaked field morphed into a muddy battlefield where finesse was rendered irrelevant, and sheer grit took centre stage. Despite early efforts from Mohan Chowdary and Gunaja Chatterjee, Karak’s goalkeeper, Piyush Date, was there to spoil the fun with some heroic saves.

Then, on the half-hour mark, it happened—Nusrat Noor stepped up for a free kick and delivered a precision-guided missile into Karak’s net. 1-0 to Hyderabad, and the fans erupted with thunderous applause, louder than the rain itself!

Second Half: Hyderabad Turns Up the Heat

As the skies continued to weep, Hyderabad’s midfield maestro, Ranajay Chhetri, orchestrated a brilliant move in the 66th minute. With a swift combination in the middle, Chhetri danced past Karak's defence and slotted home the ball, sending Hyderabad 2-0 up. The slippery pitch did nothing to dampen the team’s spirits; if anything, it fuelled their determination.

By the 83rd minute, fate dealt Karak another blow when Hyderabad was awarded a penalty. Noor, once again proving he had ice water in his veins, blasted the ball straight down the middle, sealing the win with a resounding 3-0.

Notable Moments and Final Stats

Throughout the match, Hyderabad held the lion’s share of possession with a solid 61% in the first half, dipping only slightly to 59% in the second. Karak’s attack was limited to a single chance, while Hyderabad had 11 attempts, keeping Karak’s defence on high alert.

In the dying moments, despite their tenacity, Karak’s substitute Lamin ‘Megaman’ Megannem couldn’t conjure any magic to alter the scoreline. The final whistle blew, and Shahi Hyderabad claimed a well-earned victory, proudly basking in the downpour.

For the fans, Fateh Maidan may have become a mud-filled memory, but this clash of grit and glory will remain etched in the minds of the drenched and dedicated Shahi Hyderabad faithful.