Super Cup champions Odisha FC beat I-League winners Gokulam Kerala FC 3-1 in a play-off match to seal a spot within the 2023-24 AFC Cup group stage, on Saturday.
The end result gave Odisha FC, who completed sixth within the Indian Super League, their probability to debut within the second-tier continental membership competitors on the again of an impressive two weeks on the fag finish of the home season.
In the ISL, they performed in matches and begins, by no means actually placing collectively a ok run of kind to essentially problem for the title.
But over the past two weeks, Odisha loved large success as they laid siege of Kozhikode. Having gained the Super Cup title, Saturday’s play-off win put a continental cherry on a superb cake.
ALSO READ| Ronaldinho Launching Worldwide Street Football League
It didn’t take lengthy for Odisha to stamp their authority on the sport. They had been faster on the ball and much more authoritative with out it.
The first probability, nonetheless, didn’t fall Odisha’s method. Gokulam, who performed many of the sport as a counter-attacking unit, got here at them by way of a Thahir Zaman nook, completely curled for Aminou Bouba within the six-yard space. The Cameroonian put his header excessive and broad.
Very quickly Gokulam had been made to pay for his or her errors, in additional methods than one.
In the 18th minute from a seemingly innocuous throw-in on the left touchline, Nandha Kumar dummied, Victor Romero spun and Diego Mauricio was by way of one-on-one. The Brazilian completed to notch his twentieth aim in all competitions and provides Odisha the lead.
It was a aim that was constructed on simplicity but in addition uncovered a Gokulam defence that had gone to mattress.
Suddenly Odisha began working riot, Mauricio, Mawihmingthanga and Romero combining to create a bunch of alternatives and maintain the Gokulam defence on their toes. Romero got here closest simply earlier than the half-hour mark, curling a free kick from a narrow-angle on the left onto the crossbar.
In the thirty first minute, Mauricio acquired his second aim, dribbling but in addition bulldozing his method by way of Gokulam’s left facet to double the lead.
The second aim awakened Gokulam and roused them from their inept slumber into one thing resembling passing soccer.
ALSO READ| WFI Row: Vinesh Phogat Urges Sister Babita Not to ‘Weaken’ Protest Against Bhushan Sharan Singh
Suddenly, Zaman and Sergio Mendigutxia had been taking part in combos and throwing Odisha’s defence off their sport. When the aim arrived within the thirty sixth minute, it got here off the top of Farshad Noor, Zaman doing all of the work on the appropriate earlier than delivering an ideal cross residence.
Within minutes Zaman himself had an opportunity to equalise, arriving completely to move a cross from the left. His try although was excessive. To Odisha’s reduction, halftime arrived simply as the sport’s momentum had shifted, giving them an opportunity to breathe and reset as they had been main 2-1.
And reset they did, surging into the lead once more. Almost instantly, Romero conjured up one other probability, and once more, the body of the aim proved to be his undoing, the publish denying him this time.
It wouldn’t matter. Pawan Kumar needlessly tugged on and introduced down Diego Mauricio on the sting of the field within the 52nd minute, giving Odisha a penalty and an opportunity to revive their two-goal cushion.
Mauricio didn’t miss it. His twenty second aim of the season was sufficient for Odisha to regain momentum and see the sport out.
Read all of the Latest Sports News, Check Out Orange Cap and Purple Cap holder particulars right here
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
