A 96th-minute Nandhakumar Sekar goal helped Odisha FC post a thrilling 3-2 win of Chennaiyin FC in their seventh match of the 9th Hero Indian Super League (ISL) at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar today. This was the fifth win and third on home ground for Odisha FC and they advanced from fifth to third place in the 11-team league table with 15 points.

The  match saw all elements needed to script a high-end drama _ an own goal, two penalties, a fightback by the visitors, a late winner and a 10-minute stoppage of the proceedings due to power failure.

Odisha FC went ahead in the 31st minute due to a self-goal by Vafa Hakhamaneshi. Sahil Panwar whipped in a cross from the left flank before Raynier Fernandes tried to head the ball down to Jerry. While attempting an interception, Hakhamaneshi redirected the ball into the back of his net.

Two minutes after the change of ends, the Juggernauts went 2-up as Diego Mauricio coolly converted a panalty, which was awarded after Panwar was taken out in the box by Prasanth Karuthadathkuni. Chennaiyin FC head coach Thomas Brdaric protestsed against the penalty only earned him a yellow card.

But his team pulled one back at the hour-mark. Shortly after appeals for a penalty were turned down, Ajith Kumar curled a ball into the box from the right flank before Petar Sliskovic flicked it on with his head and super-sub El Khayati slotted in their first goal with a composed finish.

In the 89th minute, Saul Crespo brought Hakhamaneshi down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot which El Khayati slotted in the equaliser from the spot. But before Dutch winger El Khayati took the penalty, the floodlights in the stadium went out.

Electricity was restored about 10 minutes later and El Khayati converted the penalty to make the scoreline 2-2. Howervger, the delight did not last long as Odisha FC retook the lead via Sekar, who pounced on a stray ball that came after a Jerry run was thwarted in the final third.

Odisha FC gained the Club Award of the match, while Nandhakumar Sekar bagged the Hero of the Match Award.
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PHOTO: Odisha FC goal scorers Nandhakumar Sekar (Left) and Diego Mauricio celebrate their win over Chennaiyin FC in the ISL match in Bhubaneswar on 24 November 2022.