Odisha FC registered second straight designated home win after getting the better of Chennaiyin FC 2-0 in the 53rd match of the Indian Super League at the Kalinga Stadium here today. First-half goals from Jerry Mawihmingthanga (37’) and Vinit Rai (41’) were enough for Odisha FC side to make it three wins out of their last four matches.

The upturn in form has seen Odisha FC (15 points from 11 matches) climb to within a point of fourth-placed Mumbai City FC. A fifth defeat of the season for Chennaiyin FC sees them languishing in ninth position.

The game got off to a scrappy start with the teams struggling to string together any move of note in the first 20 minutes. However, action livened up in the 21st minute when Marcos Tebar headed in an Odisha FC corner only to see the referee disallow the goal for an obstruction on Chennaiyin goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.

Immediately, Nandhakumar Sekar wasted a glorious chance to give the home side the lead after blazing away Xisco Hernandez’s square ball into the box with the goal at his mercy.

In the 24th minute, there was more drama as Shubham Sarangi was adjudged to have wrestled Chennaiyin striker Nerijus Valskis to the ground while contesting a cross inside the box. The referee awarded a penalty, but Valskis sent the spotkick well over.

Chennaiyin would regret that miss as Odisha scored two goals in quick succession to floor the away side. In the 37th minute, the lively Xisco fed Aridane Santana down the right-wing. He flashed a cross across the box which was missed altogether by Vishal Kaith and Laldinliana Renthlei. Jerry Mawihmingthanga had an easy task of tapping it in to give Odisha the lead.

Four minutes later, Chennaiyin were left stunned as Vinit Rai, after receiving the ball from Tebar about 20 yards from goal, unleashed a powerful strike that beat Kaith all ends up.
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TOP: Action and Celebration! Odisha FC scorers Jerry (Left) and Vinit stole the show in the first half of their ISL match against Chennaiyin FC at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on 6 January, 2020.