Odisha FC fought back from 0-2 down to hold Kerala Blasters FC to a 2-2 draw in their fourth match of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar tonight. Noah Sadaoui and Jesus Jimenez scored a goal each to put Kerala Blasters FC in a commanding position. But an own goal conceded by Alexandre Coeff and a 36th-minute strike by Diego Mauricio helped Odisha FC to end the match with an honourable draw.
Odisha FC will be back in action on October 22, when they take East Bengal at home. In the previous edition of the ISL, Odisha FC finished fourth, losing in the semifinal stage.
ODISHA FC TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh (Captain), Anuj Kumar.
Defenders: Narendra Gahlot, Amey Ranawade, Carlos Delgado (Spain), Saviour Gama, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Moirangthem Thoiba Singh, Serigne Mourtada Fall (Senegal).
Mid-fielders: Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Hugo Boumous (France), Ahmed Jahouh (Morocco), Isak Vanlalruatfela, Rohit Kumar, Raynier Fernandes, Jerry Mawihmingthanga.
Forwards: Diego Mauricio (Brazil), Rahim Ali, Roy Krishna (Fiji), Ashangbam Aphaoba Singh.
Team Staff: Sergio Lobera (Head Coach), Anish Krishna Shetty (Manager), Manuel Rodrigues (Goalkeeping Coach), Anthony Fernandes (Assistant Coach), Feroz Sheikh & Venkadesh Rethinaswamy (both Physiotherapists), Vishnu Vijayan (Doctor), Bybu Ravunny (Masseur), Ajit Kumar Bal (Kit & Equipment Manager), Jose Benitez (Fitness Coach).
ODISHA FC RESULTS:
14 September 2024 (Match 1, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): Odisha FC (Diego Mauricio 9-P, Roy Krishna 90+5) lost to Chennaiyin FC (Farukh Choudhary 48, 51, Daniel Chima 69) 2-3.
20 September 2024 (Match 2: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi): Odisha FC (Ravi Kumar 90+6-OG) lost to Punjab FC (Nihal Sudheesh 27, Leon Augustine 89) 1-2.
28 September 2024 (Match 3, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): Odisha FC (Diego Mauricio 20, Mourtada Fall 42) beat Jamshedpur FC (Mourtada Fall 62-OG) 2-1.
3 October 2024 (Match 4, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): Odisha FC (Alexandre Coeff 29-OG, Diego Mauricio 36) drew with Kerala Blasters (Noah Sadaoui 18, Jesus Jimenez 21) 2-2.
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PHOTO: Odisha FC forward Diego Mauricio (Left) celebrates after scoring a goal in their ISL match against Kerala Blasters FC at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on 3 October 2024.