Odisha FC wrapped up their AFC Cup 2023-24 campaign with a goalless draw against Central Coast Mariners FC of Australia in the second leg of the Inter-Zonal semifinals at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar today. The Mariners, who had won the first leg 4-0 at the Central Coast Stadium in Gasford, Australia earlier on March 7, thus marched into the double-leg final, where they will meet Kyrgyz club Abdysh-Ata Kant on April 17 and 24.

The AFC Cup is an annual continental club football competition, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The 2023–24 AFC Cup is the 19th and last edition of the tournament. From the 2024–25 season, the AFC Cup will be discontinued. The AFC Champions League 2 and the AFC Challenge League will be introduced as second and third-tier club tournaments of Asia respectively.

Notwithstanding the defeat to Central Coast Mariners FC, the journey of Bhubaneswar-based Odisha FC in the AFC Cup 2023-24 was remarkable. The Kalinga Warriors also started their campaign in Group-D league with two successive defeats last year. They lost to Indian opponents Mohun Bagan Super Giant 0-4 and Basundhara Kings, Bangladesh 2-3.

But things took a dramatic turn thereafter as Odisha FC won four games in a row to become the first Indian club team to qualify for the AFC Cup Inter-Zone Semifinal playoff. The four wins include two against Maziya S&RC of Maldives (6-1 and 3-2) and one each against Mohun Bagan Super Giant (5-2) and Basundhara Kings, Bangladesh (1-0).

RESULTS:

7 March 2024 (Inter-Zonal Semifinals at Central Coast Stadium, Gasford, Australia): Odisha FC lost to Central Coast Mariners (Mikael Doka 36, 77-P, Storm Roux 52, Ronald Barcellos 89) 0-4.
14 March 2024 (Inter-Zonal Semifinals at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): Odisha FC drew with Central Coast Mariners 0-0.
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PHOTO: Players of Odisha FC pose before their AFC Cup Inter-Zonal second-leg semifinal match against Central Coast Mariners in Bhubaneswar on 14 March 2024.