In a captivating match that left fans on the edge of their seats, Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters FC shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the Kalinga Stadium on a brisk Thursday night during the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. The contest was as pulsating as it was dramatic, featuring moments of brilliance, defensive errors, and relentless attacks from both sides from start to finish.
The match commenced with an electrifying pace, as Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters were eager to assert their dominance early on. It didn’t take long for the action to heat up. Danish Farooq of Kerala Blasters seized an opportunity by snatching the ball from Odisha’s Mourtada Fall, immediately launching into a promising attack. Fall, however, was quick to recover, sliding the ball out to concede a corner kick.
At the other end, Hugo Boumous orchestrated a promising attack for Odisha FC, delivering a perfect pass to Diego Mauricio lurking in the six-yard box. However, Mauricio’s attempt went awry, allowing Sachin Suresh, Kerala’s goalkeeper, to comfortably gather the ball.
As the first half progressed into the 15th minute, Kerala Blasters exhibited flair and cunning with Jesus Jimenez nutmegging both Thoiba Singh and Ahmed Jahouh to expertly deliver the ball to Noah Sadaoui. Positioned well within the six-yard area, Sadaoui looked certain to score, but Fall intervened once more, clearing the ball away and keeping the score level.
Mikael Stahre’s Kerala Blasters were not to be denied for long. Just three minutes after their near miss, a moment of magic unfolded. Jimenez, with dexterous footwork, provided a sublime assist to Sadaoui inside the box. This time, Sadaoui made no mistake, curling the ball past Odisha’s goalkeeper Amrinder, and sparking celebrations among the visiting fans.
Not content with a mere assist, Sadaoui turned provider just minutes later. Showing great awareness and skill, he deftly dribbled into the penalty area before threading a pass to Jimenez. The Spaniard finished with precision, shooting towards the first post and leaving Amrinder with no chance to prevent the second goal from Kerala Blasters.
Trailing 2-0, Odisha FC knew they had to respond swiftly.
. Sergio Lobera’s side found a lifeline in the 29th minute. Ahmed Jahouh played a clever short corner that saw the ball delivered into a crowded six-yard box. Sachin Suresh fumbled the collection, and the consequential ricochet resulted in Alexandre Coeff inadvertently turning the ball into his own net, handing Odisha FC a crucial goal back.
Odisha FC wasted no time in restoring parity. Seven minutes post their first goal, an impressive exchange between Diego Mauricio and Jerry Mawihmingthanga led to Mauricio thundering a shot past Suresh. This goal highlighted Jerry’s pivotal role, marking his 21st assist in the ISL, an feat that places him among the league’s elite playmakers.
The rollercoaster of a first half could have ended with Odisha taking the lead. As the clock ticked into added time, Jahouh delivered a tantalizing free-kick into the box, finding Fall. His header was on target, but Suresh, showing great agility, miraculously diverted it away, ensuring the teams entered the break on level terms.
In the second half, both teams looked to seize control. Odisha FC introduced new energy into the match with the substitution of Roy Krishna, who in the 56th minute sent a cross into the box. Suresh, continuing his goalkeeping heroics, managed to tip the cross away, but it fell invitingly to Isak Vanlalruatfela, whose subsequent shot failed to hit the target.
As the game neared its conclusion, opportunities arose for both teams to clinch a victory. In the 88th minute, a potential chance for Kerala Blasters slipped away as a short pass from Thoiba Singh to Amrinder saw Adrian Luna’s attempted deflection off the keeper go wide, resulting in a goal-kick.
Despite a flurry of late attacks from both teams, the decisive winner remained elusive, and the match concluded as a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Looking ahead, Odisha FC will gear up for their next fixture against East Bengal at home on October 22. Meanwhile, Kerala Blasters are set to travel to Kolkata, where they will face Mohammedan SC on October 20, promising more football drama in the coming fixtures.
