Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25: Odisha FC played out a 2-2 draw with Kerala Blasters FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar tonight.
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| Picture Credit - ISL Media |
Diego Mauricio scored for Odisha FC while Alexandre Coeff conceded an own goal. Meanwhile, Noah Sadaoui and Jesus Jimenez combined well to get on the scoresheet for Kerala Blasters FC.
The match was quite lively from the beginning as both sides produced back-to-back attempts. On one hand, Danish Farooq snatched the ball from Mourtada Fall and had free space in front only to see the latter sliding the ball out for a corner.
Similarly, Hugo Boumous passed it to Diego Mauricio inside the six-yard box, and the Brazilian false-kicked, but Sachin Suresh easily collect it.
At the 15th minute Jimenez nutmegged both Thoiba Singh and Ahmed Jahouh to find Sadaoui inside the six-yard area. Again Fall came to the rescue, to clear it off.
Mikael Stahre's team did not need to wait for long, as within three minutes of the hour, the duo combined again. Jimenez laid it off for Sadaoui inside the box, to see him curl it past Amrinder.
Three minutes later, Sadaoui turned provider. He cut in and went towards the penalty box and passed it on to Jimenez. The Spaniard glanced a shot towards the first post to see Amrinder concede again.
In the 29th minute, Sergio Lobera's side got some reprieve. Ahmed Jahouh played a short corner and then crossed it into the six-yard area. Sachin fumbled to collect it and the ricochet from his teammate Alexandre Coeff crossed the goal line.
Odisha FC didn't take too much time to score again. Seven minutes later, Mauricio combined with Jerry Mawihmingthanga. He passed it to Jerry, who crossed it towards his path, and the Brazilian's shot was too much for Suresh to save. This was Jerry's 21st assist in the ISL.
The 42nd minute saw another defensive blunder from the Juggernauts. Fall played a wrong pass to Sadaoui who was lurking outside the box.
He picked it up and tried a side-footed shot only for Amrinder to punch it clear. Extra time in the first half, Odisha FC were potentially ahead. Jahouh dived in a free-kick from near the centre circle, finding Fall at the end of it. His header, however was fortunately saved by Suresh who came up.
Lobera brought in a new pair of legs early in the second half. And in the 56th minute, it was new import Roy Krishna who chipped in a cross from the right. Suresh got his hand to it, guiding the same to Isak Vanlalruatfela's path. The winger couldnt keep the ball on target.
In the 88th minute, a short pass from Thoiba Singh to Amrinder could have been converted into an opportunity by returning Adrian Luna, but the goalkeeper's clearance deflected off the Uruguayan and went out of the field for a goal-kick.
Both teams added more sharpness to their armour in the last few minutes in search of the winner, but the winning goal was not to come.
With a goal and an assist against Odisha FC, Noah Sadaoui has overtaken Dimitri Petratos with the most goal contributions in the Indian Super League since the start of the 2022-23 season.
