JOIN USOzone FC’s hopes of qualifying for the final round of I-League second division was dealt a major blow when they went down 1-2 to Fateh Hyderabad AFC at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Thursday.
The loss means Ozone stay third in Group C with seven points, while the Hyderabad side rise to the top spot with nine points and have sealed their place in the final round of the league. Ozone’s fate depends on other results going in their favour before they meet Mumbai’s Kenkre FC in their final league fixture on February 24.
Coming on the back of a comfortable win against Pride Sports, Ozone were expected to put up a fight against Fateh. But even before the spectators could find their seats and settle down, the home side found themselves chasing the game.
Manoj Kannan found Nima Tamang with a cross from the right in the third minute. Tamang did well to beat his marker and his miscued shot looped over an advanced Nikhil Barnard in the Ozone goal to give his team the lead.
Midway through the opening half, the visitors doubled their lead. Once again it was Kannan who turned the provider. The former Income Tax player’s cross from the left was met by Nongmeithem Singh, who scored in the 23rd minute.
The top scorer of the league, Anto Xavier, pulled one back for the hosts in the 40th minute when he guided in a Vignesh corner.
In the second half, Fateh goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia suffered a concussion after clashing with a team-mate and was immediately taken to the hospital. “We had a X-ray done on Bhutia’s neck region and the reports have come back negative. It was an impact injury and he should be fit for the next game,” said Yogesh Maurya, the Fateh assistant coach.
DH News Service