Mehrajuddin Wadoo urges team to work on defence after loss against Hyderabad FC

Mohammedan SC assistant coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo wants his team to work on defence after a 1-3 loss against Hyderabad FC at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad in the ongoing Indian Super League on Saturday. 

The visitors conceded twice in the opening half as Allan Paulista and Ramhlunchhunga scored for the home team. Makhan Chothe pulled one back for the visitors but Joseph Sunny extinguished any hopes of a comeback as he scored in the stoppage time.

Mohammedan SC dominated the possession with 56.8% and took eight shots on target.

Wadoo said they were better in the second half but his team was not up to the mark in the opening half.

“In the second half especially, the team, they fought really well, they created chances. They (players) scored one and they could have scored another one also. Very unlucky, it’s been the story of the season for us. We have been very unlucky in terms of scoring the goals,” Wadoo said in the post-match presentation. 

The assistant coach wants his team to pull up their socks in the defence and show more character.

“Conceding three goals, we need to work on our defence. Also, in games like this, we have to show the character, which was lagged in the first half, but second half we fought well. A lot of positives to take out of this game. And let’s see what mistakes we have done, we analyse the game and make sure that the next games we try to improve,” Wadoo added.

Wadoo said they could have avoided the goals which they conceded and added the goalkeeper could have done a better job.

“Yeah, about the first goal, it was like a good ball from the player from Hyderabad FC and he (Paulista) had a good control on the ball and the first touch was okay. But I think it could have been saved also because it touched the hands of the goalkeeper. So I would say, yeah, it could have been saved,” he said.

“The second goal, yes, conceding that free kick outside the box could have been avoided. So that is what we have been telling the players to avoid as much as possible outside the box. Yeah, so that happens in the game, but we can’t help it now. But we have to make sure that we keep improving and try to do our best in the coming five games.,” he added.

Mohammedan SC will next take on derby rivals East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on Sunday.