Mumbai City 2-1 Hyderabad FC: 3 reasons why the Islanders posted their first home victory | ISL 2019-20

#2 Hyderabad fail to capitalize on their numerical superiority

Despite being a man up, Hyderabad couldn't find an equaliser. (Image: ISL)

The visitors began the game extremely tentatively, although they enjoyed quite a bit of possession. Subsequently, that allowed Mumbai to surge into the ascendancy and impose their identity on the game.

The second half also started off in a similar vein, although the complexion of the contest was altered significantly in the 67th minute. After Marcelinho got the better of Sarthak Golui on the left flank, the latter threw out a stray arm to block the Brazilian’s path. The Hyderabad midfielder took an almighty tumble, albeit slightly theatrically as the referee issued Sarthak his marching orders.

Post the sending off, the visitors pushed and probed incessantly. However, for all their dominance in the final quarter of the match, they weren’t able to dent the Islanders’ charge considerably, meaning that the 10-men of Mumbai City held on to all three points.

Through that period, Hyderabad were guilty of missing several good opportunities. Marcelinho was uncharacteristically wasteful whereas Amrinder Singh also came up with a couple of crucial saves.

However, their clearest opportunity surfaced in second-half stoppage time when Robin Singh had the goal at his mercy. Yet, the Indian somehow spooned his effort over the bar as Mumbai heaved a sigh of relief.

Even before the second period, the away side had spurned a couple of presentable chances, with Bobo most notably heading over from inside the 6-yard-box.

And, though they made the net ripple eventually, it acted merely as a consolation rather than as a springboard for an unlikely comeback.

Throughout the 2019-20 term, there have been a plethora of issues to address for Phil Brown. And, while there weren’t any new ailments to worry about on Sunday, the recurring theme of Hyderabad simply not showing enough conviction in the attacking third reared its head again.