Indian Super League 2024-25: Shami Singamayum becomes league's youngest-ever scorer as Punjab FC win
It was a record-breaking day as Shami, all of 17 years and 322 days, set the record for the youngest-ever goal-scorer in ISL history,
while Muhammad Suhail became the third-youngest in the competition to assist a goal (18 years and 175 days).
- HYDERABAD — Shami
Singamayum became the youngest-ever goal-scorer in the league's history as
Punjab FC defeated Hyderabad FC 3-1 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at
the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium here on Thursday night.
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- It was a record-breaking day as Shami, all of 17 years and
322 days, set the record for the youngest-ever goal-scorer in ISL history,
while Muhammad Suhail became the third-youngest in the competition to assist a
goal (18 years and 175 days).
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- Despite holding just 43.7% of ball possession, Punjab FC
were the more assertive of the two teams, taking seven shots on target as
compared to the two of Hyderabad FC. Though out of the playoffs race, they
moved to 27 points with this win, breaking Hyderabad FC’s five-game-long
unbeaten run at home. Asmir Suljic was a force to reckon with inside the
Hyderabad FC defensive half to ensure that Punjab FC got off the blocks
creatively. His fleet footedness and eye for a pass pushed him to pick players
in probing positions and pose questions in front of the home team's defence.
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- One such delivery to Luka Majcen in the middle of the
18-yard box was struck firmly towards the bottom left corner by the striker but
saved in time in the 22nd minute. The sequence had reversed just 12 minutes
prior when Majcen had made a similar pass to Suljic, slicing past the Hyderabad
FC defence, but the latter’s effort towards the bottom right corner lacked
adequate pace behind it.
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- Punjab FC found the breakthrough courtesy of an own goal by
Alex Saji in the 41st minute, though. Muhammad Suhail made the ambitious choice
of going for the goal from a distance upon receiving a pass from Ricky Shabong.
Though the move did not culminate in a goal, the sustained period of pressure
for a brief while thereafter resulted in Hyderabad FC losing shape at the back,
as Alex was unable to cap off a fairly straightforward clearance and instead
ended up slotting the ball in his net, breaking the deadlock before the
half-time break.
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- Majcen undertook a focused role inside the 18-yard area and
did not necessarily partake in as much playmaking, with Suhail taking over
those responsibilities instead. Suhail spotted Majcen at the centre of the box
in the 56th minute and served him an impeccably well-weighted pass, which the
forward drilled into the bottom left corner with his right foot at ease to
double his team’s lead. Hyderabad FC stepped on the offensive post, looking to
cut the lead. While this offensive strategy propelled them to find more time on
the ball in Punjab FC’s half, it also left spaces vacant in their own backline.
