Despite being a man down for the final quarter, Odisha FC held on to seal a 1-1 draw against FC Goa in their 17th match of the 9th Indian Super League (ISL) Football Tournament at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar today. The draw meant Odisha FC remained in the seventh place with 24 points.

First-half goals from Noah Sadaoui (FC Goa) and Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC) had set up a big second half for the two playoff contenders who will, nonetheless, likely be happy with a result that did not damage either of their prospects.

FC Goa got off to the perfect start when Sadaoui put them ahead in the second minute. Alvaro Vazquez picked up the ball in midfield as Odisha FC were looking to push forward, and found Sadaoui with a through ball on the left side of the box.

The defence of Odisha FC was spread out and tracking back as the forward found time to compose himself and drive the ball past left hand of custodian Amrinder Singh.

Odisha FC did manage to create the better chances from there on, often from the left with Isak Ralte being their outlet. FC Goa defended narrowly and in numbers for the majority of the half, offering very little for the hosts to breach, until Ralte was fouled a few yards outside the box towards the end of the half. Mauricio stepped up to take the resulting free-kick and powered a curler that was too much for Dheeraj Singh leaping to his right.

In the 67th minute, Odisha FC were down a man after Sahil Panwar tackled them from behind. The second yellow card been shown to him while he was on a yellow.

The result put Odisha FC level on matches with Bengaluru FC, but a point behind sixth place, while FC Goa remain in fourth. Odisha FC stay at home to face Hyderabad FC on February 10.
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PHOTO: Odisha FC striker Diego Mauricio celebrates after scoring a spectacular goal against FC Goa in their ISL match in Bhubaneswar on 6 February 2023.