KBFC vs HFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 25 November 2023
Time: 20:00 (IST)
Venue: Kaloor Stadium, Kochi
KBFC vs HFC Match Preview
After a wait of almost a year, Kerala Blasters managed to secure an away victory in the ISL with a 2-1 result against East Bengal at Salt Lake Stadium. The Tuskers had their goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to thank for the win again. The 22-year-old, quickly turned fan-favourite and carrying a sporting icon name associated with the club brand, denied Cleiton Silva from the spot in a crucial moment of the game. Daisuke Sakai and Dimitrios Diamantakos finished the job at the other end to make it four wins out of the first six games of the season for the Blasters. Level on points with table-toppers FC Goa after playing a game more, the side now wants to place them at the top of the tie by maintaining their four-game unbeaten run at home as they welcome Hyderabad FC after the international break. Although Blasters lost the last meeting in Kochi against the Nizams, they will be facing a completely different opposition this time hoping to add to their tally.
Hyderabad FC once again had to strike late in the match this time against Punjab FC to avoid defeat in an ISL game. Substitute Jonathan Moya became the saviour in stoppage time with his header from Zothanpuia’s cross after Juan Mera gave the lead for the promoted side in Delhi. Thangboi Singto’s side now have played three consecutive 1-1 draws but a victory still looks a far sight for the team. Their poor start to the season is defined by no wins in six matches and staying second-bottom of the table with just three points gathered. It has been a swift decline for the Nizams who won the ISL trophy in 2022 and finished as runners-up in the league phase last season. The club is also jostling with off-field issues with a second transfer ban imposed by FIFA in a year for unpaid wages to ex-player and former coach Manolo Marquez. In this tough time, Hyderabad FC wish for positivity soon to not make the situation worse.
KBFC vs HFC Team News
Kerala Blasters are boosted by the return of Prabir Das and Milos Drincic, two key players in defence, from their three-match ban. However, they are unlikely to disrupt the current back four of the home side. Jeakson Singh and Aibanbha Dohling remain absent. Visitors, Hyderabad FC have no concerns in their squad.
KBFC vs HFC Predicted Lineups
KBFC: Sachin Suresh; Prabir Das, Pritam Kotal, Ruivah Hormipam, Naocha Singh; Daisuke Sakai, Vibin Mohanan, Danish Farooq Bhat, Adrián Luna; Kwame Peprah, Dimitrios Diamantakos
HFC: Gurmeet Singh; Nikhil Poojary, Chinglensana Singh, Nim Dorjee; Joe Knowles, Joao Victor, Petteri Pennanen, Mark Zothanpuia; Mohammad Yasir, Felipe Amorim; Aaren D'Silva
KBFC vs HFC Head to Head
Played - 9
KBFC Won - 4
Drawn - 1
HFC won - 4
KBFC vs HFC Dream11 Prediction
GK: Suresh (7.5)
DEF: Prabir (7.5), Kotal (8.5), Poojary (8)
MID: Knowles (9), Sakai (8.5), Victor (9), Farooq (8.5), Luna (9)
FW: Amorin (7.5, Diamantakos (8.5)
Vice-captain: Daisuke Sakai
Captain: Adrian Luna
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