Kerala secure first win of the season, beat Hyderabad 2-0

Bambolim (Goa), Dec 27 : Kerala Blasters dished out a complete performance as they edged Hyderabad 2-0 to secure their first win of the 2020/21 Indian Super League (ISL) season at the GMC Stadium on Sunday.
Abdul Hakku’s header in the 29th minute put Kerala ahead in the first half before Jordan Murray sealed three points for Kibu Vicuna’s side in the 88th minute.
Vicuna rang in five changes to the side that drew against SC East Bengal while Hyderabad made two changes with Liston Colaco returning to the starting eleven.
Both sides created chances in the first half but it was Kerala who headed into the break with a lead.
Kerala started on a bright note and had a chance to break the deadlock early on when an error from Asish Rai got Hyderabad in trouble. Sahal pounced on Rai’s poor touch and squared the ball but Odei Onaindia thwarted the danger with a vital tackle.
Hyderabad too created a few half-chances with Aridane Santana failing to take them. Both sides fought neck-and-neck but Kerala grabbed the opener just before the half-hour mark through a set-piece. They won a corner and Facundo Pereyra whipped an inch-perfect cross for Hakku, who bagged his first ISL goal through a pin-point header.