Odisha FC maintained their stellar record at home this season after a 3-1 win over Hyderabad FC in the 9th Indian Super League (ISL) Football Tournament at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar today. The win saw the Juggernauts replace Bengaluru FC in sixth place.

This was the eighth win in 18 matches for Odisha FC, who now have 27 points in their kitty. A loss for Hyderabad FC also means that if Mumbai City FC win against FC Goa tomorrow, the Islanders will be crowned ISL League Shield winners.

The hosts got off to a lively start and were the better side in the first half. They dominated possession and had nine attempts on goal. Hyderabad FC could only muster three. Five out of those attempts came via Diego Mauricio. On a couple of occasions, the striker could not keep his shot on target, while Gurmeet Singh dealt with the others.

Gurmeet was solid between the sticks, but it was not enough to keep Odisha FC quiet as they got their noses in front minutes after the half-hour mark. Pedro Martin played the ball back to Isak Ralte, who unleashed a curling stunner from about 30 yards out to put the hosts in front.

Just when it seemed that the Juggernauts were going into the break ahead, Hyderabad FC restored parity. Borja Herrera lofted the ball into the box from a free-kick which was cleared only as far as Nim Dorjee. The defender got his head on it to equalize

Hyderabad FC turned their game up a little in the second half, but it was Odisha FC who retook the lead in the final quarter of the game. A Mauricio marauding run attracted three defenders on the left side of the box before a loose ball fell into the path of Nandhakumar Sekar. The winger flashed it across the face of goal and it picked up a deflection off Dorjee and went into the back of the net.

The persistence of Mauricio was ultimately rewarded in the final minute of stoppage time. Isaac Chhakchhuak lobbed the ball into the box as the Brazilian beat the offside trap before nestling the ball in at the far post from an acute angle, confirming all three points for the Juggernauts. Odisha FC will travel to play NorthEast United FC in their next game on February 17.
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PHOTO: Players of Odisha FC celebrate after scoring a goal in their ISL match against Hyderabad FC in Bhubaneswar on 10 February 2023.