Punjab FC continued its impressive start to the Indian Super League (ISL) season, securing a dominant 2-0 victory over Hyderabad FC on Wednesday. This marks the first time Punjab has won three consecutive games in ISL history, showcasing the team’s determination to overcome the absence of their talismanic skipper Luka Majcen.
With an unchanged line-up and a clean sheet for the first time this season, Punjab started the match on the front foot. Mushaga Bakenga missed an early chance, hitting the upright in the seventh minute. Hyderabad’s Ramhlunchhunga had a shot saved by Punjab goalkeeper Ravi Kumar in the 12th minute, but the visitors struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities.
Ezequiel Vidal broke the deadlock for Punjab in the 35th minute with a well-placed free kick into the bottom left corner. The second goal came in the 71st minute when Filip Mrzjlak tapped into an empty net after a through ball from Bakenga. Mrzjlak could have scored more but missed the target, while Bakenga also had a few wide shots.
Hyderabad’s night worsened when Leander D’Cunha received a second yellow card in the final 15 minutes, reducing them to 10 men. The result leaves Hyderabad with only one win from the entire last season, while Punjab FC now sits atop the ISL table.
Punjab’s coach, Panagiotis Dilmperis, praised his team’s performance, saying, “We are very happy with the result. We played well and deserved to win. We have a good team spirit and we are working hard to improve.”
Hyderabad’s coach, Thangboi Singto, acknowledged the challenges his team faced, stating, “We had a difficult game today. Punjab played very well and we couldn’t match their pace. We need to work on our mistakes and come back stronger in the next match.”
