ISL 2021-22: Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC aim for better show after winless streaks

Bambolim: Hyderabad FC will be eager to get back to winning ways and maintain pressure on the teams in the other top four when they take on Odisha FC in the Indian Super League here on Tuesday. Hyderabad FC are currently fourth in the points table with 12 points from seven matches. The Manolo Marquez-coached outfit are three points adrift of leaders Mumbai City FC and a win against Odisha will only propel them forward after dropping points in the last two encounters. Hyderabad were held to identical 1-1 draws against FC Goa and SC East Bengal in their last two games. Odisha, on the other hand, have been winless in their last three games, losing two of them before playing out a 1-1 draw against FC Goa. They are seventh in the table with 10 points from seven games. For Hyderabad, who have been one of the most balanced sides in the league so far, their performance against rock-bottom SC East Bengal left a lot to be desired. The red and gold brigade had their chances and had Daniel Chima Chukwu converted his golden opportunity in the first half, things could have been different. Marquez would know all too well that his charges need to better their show against Odisha who have some good attacking players but have not fired in recent games. Hyderabad have been one of the best defences this season. They have shipped the fewest goals (6) and have only kept one clean sheet but are yet to concede more than one goal in a match this season. “We are in a very difficult competition and every team can beat the other. With this kind of competition,” Marquez said. “Odisha have the best foreigners in the league. It will be a difficult game. They have a very good team.” Odisha, meanwhile, have struggled to find the back of the net after scoring nine goals in their first two matches of the season. They have failed to score more than one goal in their last five matches. The good part is that Jonathas Cristian is finding his feet, netting his second goal in the last game. He attempted five shots in that match. “Hyderabad are a compact team. They are playing for a long time together. They have a good striker in Ogbeche. He is in fine form,” Odisha head coach Kiko Ramirez said. “We faced them in pre-season and they know how to create chances. We analysed them and we know how to counter-attack this team.” Bart Ogbeche scored his sixth goal of the campaign in Hyderabad’s last game and moved to third place in the most ISL goals for Hyderabad. He is now one goal behind Marcelinho and four behind Aridane Santana for the club. Hyderabad have won just one out of four matches against Odisha in the ISL and they would be keen to better that record. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.