Kolkata, Sep 11 (IANS) After a managerial run that saw them finish in Group C at the Durand Cup, the ruling ISL champions Hyderabad FC will start as #1 against the ISL side. League Rajasthan United, in the last quarterfinals at Kishore Bharati. Krirangan, here on Monday.
HFC registered three successes in the match stage and will hope to reach the Semifinals of the renowned competition without precedent for its set of experiences.
Head coach Manolo Márquez accepts that he is not entirely determined to go all the way. “We are in the pre-season right now and we are preparing for the Indian Super League (ISL). However, we consider this opposition and we need to go as far as possible. Therefore, we will have to give our best in this match against an extreme team like Rajasthan United”, said the Spaniard.
Rajasthan United, who outclassed Kolkata monsters ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal from their meeting, have been the unexpected package in the Durand Cup this year.
The I-League side have lost just one game in opposition so far, scoring six goals with their most notable result coming against the Mariners. Gyamar Nikum, who scored the injury-time champion in that game, is now the team’s top scorer and could be the dangerous man for HFC in this tie.
RUFC have quality throughout the squad and could prove difficult to beat, agrees HFC head coach Manolo Marquez.
“Rajasthan United beat ATK Mohun Bagan at their stadium, which is definitely tough. They try to play great football in decent style. They have some great players and I feel like this is going to be a problematic game for our team,” added Manolo.
Hyderabad, on the other hand, went straight from a disgrace to Army Red Football Team in their final group stage game, but finished top of the fixture table with nine points ready.
In structure, Bartholomew Ogbeche is currently the second highest standard scorer in the Durand Cup this season, with four goals to his name, but he has also been helped by Borja Herrera, Joel Chianese, Joao Victor and Halicharan Narzary, who have all been in the score sheet at the meeting stage.
HFC are one of the biggest standard scorers in the Durand Cup this season and will be hoping to be at their best in the opposition knockout stages. The champion of this game will face Bengaluru FC, who beat Odisha in the subsequent quarter-finals, at Salt Lake Stadium not long after now.