Bhubaneswar: In a thrilling encounter, Odisha FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mumbai City FC in the Kalinga Super Cup semifinal, earning them a coveted spot in the final. A 44th-minute penalty by Diego Mauricio became the decisive moment in the fiercely contested match held at the Kalinga Stadium.
Mauricio, the Brazilian striker, drew a foul from the Mumbai City goalkeeper just before half-time. Taking the penalty into his own hands, Mauricio confidently converted the chance with a powerful right-footer into the far corner past Phurba Lachenpa.
Odisha FC, boasting an impressive unbeaten streak of 15 matches across tournaments, will now face East Bengal in the final. The clash is set to captivate home fans at the Kalinga Stadium on January 28.
Despite a competitive performance from the young Mumbai team, Odisha FC created better chances throughout the game but struggled to find the finishing touch. Mauricio’s penalty ultimately proved to be the deciding factor.
The semifinal concluded on a tumultuous note, with three Mumbai players receiving red cards from the referee during the nine minutes of added time. The stage is now set for an electrifying final showdown between Odisha FC and East Bengal.
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