Bhubaneswar: The home team Odisha FC shared the points with Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), as the league match ended with 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League at Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.
The home team got an early advantage, while Asish Rai made an intentional backpass towards MBSG goalkeeper Kaith, who picked up the ball. Odisha rewarded an indirect freekick inside the box.
Jahouh sets up Boumous for the shot near the six-yard box and the Frenchman lashes at goal. The shot took a deflection off Manvir and ended up at the back of the net in the fourth minute of the play and Odisha Fc scripted an early lead.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant kept pushing for the decisive goal and against the run of play. Roy Krishna was through on goal following a beautiful ball from Saviour Gama. However, the move didn’t come to fruition as Kaith came off his lines in a jiffy and denied him from doubling the lead.
One goal down MBSG changed their gear and kept attacking from both the wings, It was that combination of Petratos and Manvir again - Petratos swung a good cross from a Mohun Bagan corner and Manvir got a solid header away at goal. However, OFC captain and goalkeeper Amrinder managed to get two hands to it but it was not enough to stop MBSG to score the equaliser in the 36th minute.
Jose Molina’s men started the second period with similar intensity as Jamie Maclaren almost pickpocketed the ball from the Odisha FC backline as they tried to play out from the back. However, a timely intervention from Thoiba Singh averted the danger.
Near the hour mark, Sergio Lobera’s men almost regained the lead when Puitea lost his marker in the middle of the pitch and made a darting run forward. He eventually pulled the trigger from long range, completely beating Vishal Kaith in goal but unfortunately, the ball skimmed the crossbar on the way out.
Odisha FC’s golden opportunity to take the lead came in the 73rd minute when Ahmed Jahouh came up with a brilliant delivery from a freekick and Amey Ranawade had a straight shot on target. But his effort was brilliantly kept out by Kaith. The Mariners failed to show the urgency in clearing their lines but eventually, the Juggernauts didn’t make them pay for their mistake.
In the 77th minute, Molina turned to Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad from the bench in search of a winner. In retaliation, Lobera also brought on Diego Mauricio and Carlos Delgado to shore things up on both ends.
Despite their relentless attack, the Mariners could not find the winner as Odisha FC held their lines brilliantly to record a draw.
