Football

Odisha FC emerged victorious in their Indian Super League (ISL) clash against East Bengal FC, securing a 2-1 triumph at home. The victory marked Odisha's second win of the season, while East Bengal suffered their sixth consecutive defeat.Roy Krishna, the Fijian forward, opened the scoring for Odisha in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a through ball from Isak Vanlalruatfela. Krishna's goal was his fourth against East Bengal in the ISL.East Bengal managed to equalize in the added time of the first half through a penalty kick converted by Dimitrios Diamantakos. The penalty was awarded after Thoiba Singh handled the ball in the penalty area.In the second half, Odisha regained control of the match. Mourtada Fall, the Senegalese defender, scored the winning goal in the 69th minute, heading home a free-kick from Ahmed Jahouh.East Bengal's woes were compounded when Provat Lakra was sent off for a second yellow card in the 76th minute. The dismissal left East Bengal with 10 men, and they were unable to recover from the setback.Odisha FC held on to their lead and secured the three points, moving up to seventh place in the ISL standings. East Bengal, on the other hand, remained rooted to the bottom of the table with just one point from seven matches.

Odisha FC's AFC Women's Champions League campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday as they suffered a disappointing 1-3 defeat to hosts Ho Chi Minh City FC in Vietnam. The loss marked the Kalinga Warriors' second consecutive defeat in the tournament, effectively eliminating them from contention for the knockout round.From the outset, Odisha FC found themselves on the back foot as Ho Chi Minh City FC seized the initiative. Within the opening minute, Nguyen Thi Kim Yenfrom capitalized on a corner kick to give the hosts an early advantage. The home side continued to press, and their efforts were rewarded in the 42nd minute when Odisha failed to clear a cross from Huynh Nhu, allowing Ho Chi Minh City to extend their lead to 2-0 heading into the break.Determined to salvage their chances, Odisha FC emerged from the interval with renewed vigor. They created several promising counter-attacking opportunities, and their persistence paid off in the 63rd minute when Malati Munda initiated a swift attack that culminated in Jennifer Yeboah's powerful finish.However, Ho Chi Minh City FC extinguished Odisha's hopes of a comeback in stoppage time. Ngo Thi Hong Nhung delivered the decisive blow, securing the hosts' passage into the knockout round. The victory also ensured the progression of Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies, who will face Ho Chi Minh City FC on Saturday to determine the Group C winners.Odisha FC will now face Taichung Blue Whale in their final group match, with both teams seeking a victory to end their respective campaigns on a positive note.

Indian Women's Football Suffers Humiliating Defeat in AFC Champions League DebutIndian women's football club Odisha FC endured a crushing 0-17 defeat in their AFC Women's Champions League debut against Japan's Urawa Reds Diamonds on Sunday. The Japanese side dominated the match from start to finish, showcasing their superior skill and experience.Yu Endo opened the scoring for Urawa Reds within five minutes, setting the tone for a relentless onslaught. The Japanese side went on to score eight more goals in the first half, leaving Odisha FC reeling. The second half proved no respite, as Urawa Reds continued to pile on the pressure, ending the match with a staggering 55 shots compared to Odisha FC's solitary attempt.The defeat marks a disappointing start to Odisha FC's AFC Champions League campaign. The Indian club will now face Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City FC on Wednesday, hoping to salvage some pride.Meanwhile, the Indian senior men's football team will play a one-off friendly match against Vietnam on October 12. The match was originally scheduled as part of a tri-nation tournament, but Lebanon's withdrawal forced a rescheduling. The match will be an official friendly, with points counting towards the FIFA Rankings.India will assemble in Kolkata on October 5 and travel to Vietnam on October 7. Coach Manolo Marquez has announced a list of 26 probables, with the final squad of 23 players to be announced before the team's departure.After the Vietnam match, India will face Malaysia in a friendly during the FIFA Window on November 19. Malaysia is currently ranked 132nd in the FIFA rankings, while India is ranked 126th. The two teams last met in the Merdeka Cup semi-final in October 2023, with Malaysia emerging victorious 2-4.

Punjab FC finally broke the jinx against Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Friday, registering a hard-fought 2-1 victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. The win propelled Punjab to the top of the table alongside Bengaluru FC, both with six points from two games.Odisha started the match strongly, but Punjab gradually grew into the game, led by Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak. Mrzljak was instrumental in Punjab's first goal, assisting Nihal Sudheesh in the 28th minute. Sudheesh's shot found the far post, giving Punjab the lead.After the break, Punjab continued to press for a second goal. Mrzljak set up Mushaga Bakenga in the 48th minute, but the Norwegian forward sent the ball wide. Abhishek Singh also missed a chance to double Punjab's lead, despite beating the Odisha defense.Punjab's profligacy in front of goal nearly cost them dearly. Asmir Suljic had a golden opportunity to equalize for Odisha in the 78th minute, but he shot straight at goalkeeper Amrinder Singh. Amrinder was in fine form throughout the match, making several crucial saves to keep Odisha in the game.However, Odisha's resistance was finally broken in the 89th minute. Ricky Shabong's assist found Leon Augustine, who slotted the ball into the far post from an acute angle. It looked like Punjab would keep a clean sheet, but Hugo Boumous hit the upright in extra time, with the ball brushing past Ravi Kumar's head.Despite the late scare, Punjab held on for the victory, their first-ever against Odisha in the ISL. The win is a significant boost for Punjab, who are aiming to make a strong start to the season.

Odisha FC, buoyed by their impressive AFC Cup campaign and a strong finish in the Indian Super League (ISL) last season, has set their sights on the ISL title this year. Head coach Sergio Lobera expressed confidence in his team's ability to challenge for the championship, stating that they are better prepared than ever before."We had an amazing season last year, finishing at the top of the group in the AFC Cup. We were close to winning the Super Cup and we reached the ISL semifinals for the first time in the club's history. I am very proud of what we did last season. And hopefully, with more luck we can do a little bit more this season," Lobera said.Odisha FC's determination is shared by other teams in the league. Mohammedan SC, after winning the I-League last season, is eager to make an impact in the ISL. Head coach Andrey Chernyshov emphasized the importance of making their promotion count by reaching the playoffs.NorthEast United FC, which narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season, is also aiming high. Coach Juan Pedro Benali acknowledged the team's past success in the Durand Cup but stressed the need to focus on the ISL.Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the defending ISL champions, is looking to retain their title with a revamped squad. New coach Jose Molina is confident in the team's preparation and is determined to keep the League Shield in Kolkata.East Bengal FC, another Kolkata-based club, has also bolstered its squad and is hoping for a better performance this season. Coach Carles Cuadrat expressed optimism that the team can make it to the knockout stages.Punjab FC and Jamshedpur FC are also among the teams hoping to make a mark in the ISL. Coach Panagiotis Dilmperis of Punjab FC and Jamshedpur FC's coach analyzed their chances and expressed their desire to perform well.The ISL is set to be a competitive and exciting season, with several teams vying for the title. Odisha FC, with its strong determination and improved squad, is certainly one to watch.

Roy Krishna, the Fijian striker, has rediscovered his scoring touch in the Indian Super League (ISL) after joining Odisha FC. Despite being 37 years old, Krishna has netted 13 goals this season, his highest tally since winning the ISL in 2019-20.Krishna's resurgence is attributed to Odisha FC coach Sergio Lobera, who has a knack for revitalizing players. The striker's ISL career, which began under Antonio Lopez Habas, has received a second lease on life.In the semi-final first-leg against ATK Mohun Bagan, Krishna scored the winning goal to give Odisha FC a 2-1 victory. The goal came after Manvir Singh's early strike was canceled out by Carlos Delgado.Odisha FC's win was their second over league shield winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant in 2024, after Juan Ferrando was replaced by Habas. The team has remained unbeaten at home this season after 13 games.Krishna's goal was a testament to his determination and skill. He outmuscled Mohun Bagan central defender Hector Yuste to score with the outside of his boot. Krishna also drew a foul from Vishal Kaith in the 14th minute, which would have resulted in a penalty if he had not been marginally offside.Mohun Bagan's Armando Sadiku was sent off in the 67th minute for a reckless challenge on Ahmed Jahouh. Delgado's handball in the 73rd minute restored parity in personnel. However, Odisha FC held on to their lead and will take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg.Mohun Bagan, who recently won the Indian championship, now face a battle for survival in the second leg on Sunday.

Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan SG, two fierce rivals on the field, will face off in the first leg of the ISL-10 semifinal at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, as both teams have a history of intense battles and are determined to secure a spot in the final.In the league stage, the two teams played to two draws, highlighting their evenly matched abilities. However, Mohun Bagan SG enters the semifinal as the League Shield champion, having dethroned Mumbai City FC. Odisha FC, on the other hand, earned its semifinal berth with a thrilling comeback win over Kerala Blasters in the knockout match.Odisha FC will be eager to make the most of its home advantage and secure a victory that would give it an edge heading into the second leg at Salt Lake Stadium on April 28. The team will be looking to redeem itself after a disappointing end to the league title race and claim its maiden ISL crown.Odisha FC coach Sergio Lobera recalled his team's impressive performance in the AFC Cup league stage, where it defeated Mohun Bagan 5-2 at their home ground. That victory was a testament to Lobera's side's resilience, especially after suffering a 4-0 defeat in the first meeting at Kalinga Stadium.With the region experiencing extreme heat, weather conditions will play a significant role in the outcome of the match. The team that shows better endurance and adaptability will have a clear advantage.

NorthEast United FC concluded their Indian Super League campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Odisha FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday. Despite failing to qualify for the playoffs, the Highlanders put on a strong performance against the Juggernauts, who suffered their third loss in their last five games.Sergio Lobera's team finished the league season with 39 points and will now compete in the playoffs for a place in the semi-finals. The Highlanders, who finished last in the 2022-23 season, ended this campaign in seventh place with 26 points from 22 matches.The Highlanders' clinical performance was highlighted by young attacker Parthib Gogoi, who opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a tap-in from a low cross. Gogoi, who had started the season by scoring in each of their first three league games, ended the campaign with a goal to his name, albeit in a different style.Four minutes later, the home team doubled their lead through Spanish talisman Nestor Albiach. Parthib, lively in the final third, laid the ball up for Nestor, who carried the ball into the Odisha FC box with effortless ease and put it past Lalthuammawia Ralte to round off one of the most captivating solo efforts of the season.The Juggernauts had a chance to pull a goal back soon afterwards when Odisha FC attacker Pranjil Bhumij drew a foul inside the 18-yard box in the 24th minute. However, Roy Krishna's shot from the spot was saved in the bottom left corner by NorthEast United FC goalkeeper Mirshad Michu.This was the first time that Krishna missed a penalty in his ISL career, having converted each of his previous 10 efforts. The Highlanders made them pay for this slip-up, with Phalguni Singh getting his name on the scoresheet in the added time of the first half.Gogoi's cross inside the center of the box was lapped upon and netted in by Phalguni for his team's third goal of the night, effectively handing them a formidable lead in the proceedings.