Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC’s rollercoaster night at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium ended in disappointment as the Kalinga Warriors succumbed to a 2-3 defeat against Kerala Blasters in a dramatic Indian Super League (ISL) clash on Monday.
The visitors got off to a dream start when Jerry Mawihmingthanga capitalized on an early opportunity to put Odisha FC ahead in just the 4th minute, silencing the passionate home crowd. The Kalinga Warriors held firm defensively, taking a slender 1-0 lead into halftime.
The game burst into life after the hour mark. Kerala Blasters equalized in the 67th minute, thanks to Ghanaian striker Kwame Peprah, who placed a precise right-footer past Odisha goalkeeper Amrinder Singh. Just six minutes later, Spaniard Jesus Jimenez rose above the Odisha defense to nod in a second, giving Kerala a 2-1 lead.
Odisha FC responded valiantly. In the 80th minute, the Blasters’ goalkeeper Sachin Suresh made two stunning saves—first blocking Diego Mauricio’s free-kick and then stopping Saviour Gama’s rebound. However, the ricochet fell to Dorielton, who blasted it into the net to level the score at 2-2.
The match took a turn in the 83rd minute when Odisha’s Carlos Delgado was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Despite being reduced to 10 men, the Kalinga Warriors fought on gamely, but their resilience was broken in the dying moments of the match.
In the 95th minute, Noah Sadaoui struck for Kerala Blasters, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory and breaking Odisha’s hearts.
The defeat leaves Odisha FC in seventh place on the ISL table, with 21 points from 16 matches. The Kalinga Warriors now face another away challenge as they take on Bengaluru FC on January 22.
The loss highlights the fine margins in football, with Odisha FC showing grit but ultimately falling short. Fans will hope the team regroups and bounces back in their upcoming fixtures.
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