KOLKATA: There might be miles to go before laying their hands on League Winners’ Shield this season, but Sergio Lobera’s wards are showing the stuff champions are made of.
Suffering the earliest of setbacks in the opening minute of the game, hosts
Odisha FC
made a comeback worthy of Kalinga Warriors as they beat
East Bengal
2-1 in an
Indian Super League
(
ISL
) clash at
Kalinga Stadium
in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Vishnu Puthiya took an early lead for the visitors before Diego Mauricio equalised from the spot in the 40th minute. Princeton Rebello netted the winner right after the hour mark to cap a memorable comeback for the Juggernauts as they consolidated their position atop the league table with 35 points from 17 games. Mumbai City are behind them with 32 points and a game in hand.
East Bengal, on the other hand, remain rooted to the eighth spot with 18 points from 17 games. With the defeat, the red and golds’ chances of breaking into the top-six are looking increasingly slim.
However, with an eye on the last playoff berth, East Bengal had the perfect start in a match watched by their suspended coach Carles Cuadrat from the stand. Vishnu scored in the opening minute of the game giving Odisha defence virtually no time to settle down. Receiving a pass from Aleksandar Pantic well outside the area, the East Bengal winger broke into the rival box almost unchallenged and went past a couple of defenders before shooting a low left-footed shot from centre of box at bottom right corner.
However, league leaders Odisha were quick to regroup after the early setback and started to pile on the pressure on their opponents. Several attempts were made aiming for the equaliser, but East Bengal survived the attacks by the home side, till it was five minutes from the half-time whistle.
Odisha’s Mr Dependable Diego Mauricio earned a penalty in the 39th minute when he was brought down inside the box on the left by East Bengal right-back Mohammad Rakip. The Brazilian stepped up to take the spot-kick and delivered with a powerful shot at the bottom right corner that beat goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill .
Going into the breather with the score level, Odisha had their chin up and the momentum shifted in their favour. Their relentless pressure after the change of sides bore fruit in the 61st minute when Rebello’s right footer from close range shook the East Bengal net to the joy of home fans.
The central midfielder was assisted by an Ahmed Jahouh cross from right following a corner to help Odisha go ahead of their rivals and avenge their Super Cup final loss to the same opposition more than a month ago at this very venue.
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