ISL: Odisha FC down Mohun Bagan in first leg

Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC secured a 2-1 victory against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in the first leg of their semifinal fixture of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on Tuesday night. The Juggernauts thus secured their first-ever ISL win over the Mariners after nine attempts, as a game of close margins kicked off amid frenetic circumstances with all three goals being netted in the first-half of this match.

Manvir Singh handed the Antonio Lopez Habas-coached Mohun Bagan an early lead in the third minute, but Carlos Delgado and Roy Krishna scored once each for Odisha to help the team maintain their unbeaten streak at home this season (13 matches) before heading into the second leg of this last-four clash at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday. Eventually, both teams brought an end to this hotly contested clash with 10 men on either side, as Mohun Bagan striker Armando Sadiku and Delgado were sent off in the 67th and 74th minutes after picking up a couple of yellow cards each.

Manvir netted the second fastest goal in the ISL playoffs, behind only Lalrindika Ralte's goal for ATK against Mumbai City FC on December 10, 2016. The ball was delivered to him from a corner by dynamic striker Dimitrios Petratos. 

Odisha were not left too far behind though, replying in similar fashion courtesy of the duo of Ahmed Jahouh and Delgado nine minutes later. The Moroccan was accurate with his corner delivery, and Delgado made his way through a crowded 18-yard box to deposit the ball into the back of the net.

A rather tense back-and-forth passage of play ensued thereafter, before Krishna finally broke through with the winner in the 39th minute. As the Mariners looked to press high from an Odisha goal-kick, custodian Amrinder Singh sensed a unique opportunity and put in a long ball straight towards Krishna inside the Mohun Bagan half. Krishna brought the ball down with his head, before sprinting past Hector Yuste and putting the ball beyond Vishal Kaith to become the highest-ever goal-scorer for Odisha in a single ISL season with his 13th strike of the campaign.

(With inputs from ISL Media)