David Williams scored the fastest goal in ISL’s short history but Javier Siverio’s late strike ensured Hyderabad FC moved to the top of the table riding a 2-2 draw against ATK Mohun Bagan at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday.
Hyderabad FC edged past Mumbai City FC on goal difference. Both teams have 16 points from nine games. ATK Mohun Bagan, who would have taken pole position if they had logged full points, are third with 15 from nine outings.
Williams, playing ahead of Roy Krishna who started on the bench, took just 12 seconds to score before Bartholomew Ogbeche equalised in the 18th minute. An own goal from Asish Rai (64th) almost poured cold water on Hyderabad FC’s hopes of going top of the tree before substitute Siverio headed in a looping delivery inside the box into the goal.
ATK Mohun Bagan raced a 1-0 lead inside the first minute, Williams racking up his record goal with a powerful strike from outside the box that went in kissing Hyderabad goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani’s gloves after Hugo Boumous set him up. The experienced Kattimani could have done better but at the other end, Amrinder Singh committed an even worse blunder in the 18th minute when he failed to hold on to a simple aerial and the ball fell to Ogbeche.
The Nigerian in-form striker made no mistake, slamming the ball into an open net to net his ninth goal of the campaign.
Amrinder was at fault once again as he passed the ball to Ogbeche where he should have cleared but the Hyderabad FC marksman could not make the most of it.
ATK Mohun Bagan suffered a setback when Carl McHugh had to be replaced just before half-time after the Irish midfielder suffered a concussion and had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. Before half-time, Boumous picked up his fourth yellow card meaning he will miss the next game.
The second half saw Hyderabad FC put up a solid defensive display until Williams dribbled past Akash Mishra and crossed for Joni Kauko who nodded in at the far post off a deflection from Asish Rai. The goal, later, was adjudged as an own goal by Rai.
Having taken the lead for the second time in the game, ATK Mohun Bagan kept pushing for the insurance goal. Liston Colaco came close to scoring from a crisp Williams reverse pass.
Juan Ferrando added teeth upfront with the introduction of Roy Krishna in the 72nd minute in place of Williams who capped off a superb display.
Just when it looked like ATK Mohun Bagan would scrape through, Siverio made sure Hyderabad went top of the heap with an opportunistic strike.