Odisha FC climbed back up into the playoff spots of the 9th Indian Super League (ISL) Football Tournament after notching up a resounding 3-1 win over NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati today. Goals from Nandhakumar Sekar, Victor Rodriguez, and Diego Mauricio picked up three vital points for the Juggernauts, who are now one point away from sealing their first ever playoffs qualification.
Odisha FC kicked off with Pedro Martin and Diego Mauricio up front. The attacking intent was evident, but it was NorthEast United FC who made the better start and ventured forward in the first ten minutes. The first attempt came from Jithin MS as the winger tried to bend one into the far post from the left flank but ended up firing it wide.
At the other end of the pitch, Odisha FC finally started challenging the NorthEast United FC backline. Opportunities fell to the Spanish duo of Martin and Saul Crespo but neither one of them could get their attempts on target.
Odisha FC took a crucial lead in the 36th minute. Raynier Fernandes and Sahil Panwar exchanged a couple of passes after a short corner as the latter found Nandhakumar near the edge of the box. The winger took one look at goal and put his boot through the ball to find the top right corner.
Odisha FC established a two-goal cushion five minutes past the hour-mark. From the right flank, Crespo squared a low ball into the box for Rodriguez. The deft touch of the substitute helped him dodge Evans before driving it past Bhattacharja seven minutes after coming on. In the last ten minutes, Laldanmawia Ralte fouled Crespo inside the box and gave away a penalty. Mauricio fired it straight down the middle to make it 3-0.
In the second minute of stoppage time, a first clean sheet in eight games was snatched away from Odisha FC after Wilmar Gil fired one home from the spot following a foul by Shubham Sarangi.
This was ninth win for Odisha FC and they leapfrogged FC Goa and ATK Mohun Bagan to the fifth place in the league table with 30 points from 19 games. Odisha FC will host Jamshedpur FC at Kalinga Stadium on February 22. If they avoid defeat in that game, it could mean curtains for playoff hopes of FC Goa as they will be dependent on ATK Mohun Bagan dropping points in both their remaining games.
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PHOTO: Victor Rodriguez celebrates after scoring a goal for Odsha FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on 17 February 2023.