FATORDA, Jan 5: David Williams scored the fastest goal in the Indian Super League’s 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 in a rip-roaring encounter at the PJN Stadium here on Wednesday.
Williams, playing ahead of Roy Krishna who started on the bench, took just 12 seconds to score before Bartholomew Ogbeche continued his goalscoring spree with an equaliser in the 18th minute.
An own goal from Asish Rai (64th) almost poured cold water on Hyderabad’s hopes of going top of the tree before substitute Siverio flicked a ball into goal.
Hyderabad edged past Mumbai City FC on goal difference. Both teams have 16 points from nine games. ATK Mohun Bagan moved to the third spot with 15 points from nine outings.
ATKMB raced to 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 keeper Laxmikant Kattimani’s gloves after Hugo Boumous set him up. Amrinder Singh committed an even worse blunder in the 18th minute when he failed to hold on to a simple catch and the ball fell to Ogbeche.
The in-form Nigerian 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 been cleared but the Hyderabad marksman could not make the most of it.
ATKMB suffered a setback when Carl McHugh had to be replaced just at the cusp of halftime after the Irish midfielder suffered a concussion and had to be taken off the field in an ambulance.
Before halftime, Boumous picked up his fourth yellow card meaning he will miss the next game.
The second half saw Hyderabad put up a solid defensive display until Williams dribbled past Akash Mishra and crossed for Joni Kauko who nodded in expertly at the far post off a slight deflection from Asish Rai.
The goal was adjudged as an own goal by Rai.
Having taken the lead for the second time in the game, the Mariners kept pushing for a goal as Liston Colaco came close to scoring from a crisp Williams reverse pass.
Just as it looked like Mohun Bagan were going to snatch an all-important victory, Siverio made sure Hyderabad went top of the ISL table with an opportunistic strike in stoppage time. (UNI)
