ISL 2022-23: Clinical Odisha FC move back to 6th, Hyderabad FC’s League Shield aspirations take a massive hit

The
win
saw
the
Juggernauts
replace
Bengaluru
FC
in
sixth
place,
which
adds
extra
pressure
on
the
Blues
who
play
Kerala
Blasters
on
Saturday
(February
10).

A
loss
for
Hyderabad
FC
also
means
that
if
Mumbai
City
FC
win
against
FC
Goa
on
Saturday
(February
10),
the
Islanders
will
be
crowned
ISL
League
Shield
winners.

Odisha
FC
started
positively

The
hosts
got
off
to
a
lively
start
and
were
the
better
side
in
the
first
half.
They
dominated
possession
and
had
nine
attempts
on
goal.
Hyderabad
FC
could
only
muster
three.
Five
out
of
those
attempts
came
via
Diego
Mauricio.
On
a
couple
of
occasions,
the
striker
could
not
keep
his
shot
on
target,
while
Gurmeet
Singh
dealt
with
the
others.

The
Brazilian
came
closest
in
the
13th
minute
when
his
goal-bound
shot
picked
up
a
slight
deflection
off
Odei
Onaindia
and
nicked
the
outside
of
the
post.
Saul
Crespo
controlled
the
tempo
from
midfield
and
almost
contributed
with
a
goal
when
his
close-range
header
from
a
corner
went
wide.

Gurmeet
was
solid
between
the
sticks,
but
it
was
not
enough
to
keep
Odisha
FC
quiet
as
they
got
their
noses
in
front
minutes
after
the
half-hour
mark.
Pedro
Martin
played
the
ball
back
to
Isak
Ralte,
who
unleashed
a
curling
stunner
from
about
30
yards
out
to
put
the
hosts
in
front.

Nim
Dorjee
helps
Hyderabad
to
equalise

Just
when
it
seemed
that
the
Juggernauts
were
going
into
the
break
ahead,
Hyderabad
FC
restored
parity.
Borja
Herrera
lofted
the
ball
into
the
box
from
a
free-kick
which
was
cleared
only
as
far
as
Nim
Dorjee.
The
defender
got
his
head
on
it
to
equalise.

Six
minutes
into
the
second
half,
after
a
clever
give-and-go
with
Narzary,
Joel
Chianese
glided
into
the
box
with
the
ball
and
tried
to
squeeze
it
in
at
the
near
post,
but
Amrinder
Singh
had
it
covered.
This
chance
came
moments
after
Narzary’s
header
was
saved
comfortably
by
Amrinder.

OFC
take
lead
in
final
quarter

Hyderabad
FC
turned
their
game
up
a
little
in
the
second
half,
but
it
was
Odisha
FC
who
retook
the
lead
in
the
final
quarter
of
the
game.
Mauricio’s
marauding
run
attracted
three
defenders
on
the
left
side
of
the
box
before
a
loose
ball
fell
into
the
path
of
Nandhakumar
Sekar.
The
winger
flashed
it
across
the
face
of
goal
and
it
picked
up
a
deflection
off
Dorjee
and
went
into
the
back
of
the
net.

Mauricio’s
persistence
was
ultimately
rewarded
in
the
final
minute
of
stoppage
time.
Isaac
Chhakchhuak
lobbed
the
ball
into
the
box
as
the
Brazilian
beat
the
offside
trap
before
nestling
the
ball
in
at
the
far
post
from
an
acute
angle,
confirming
all
three
points
for
the
Juggernauts.

Odisha
FC
will
travel
to
play
NorthEast
United
FC
in
their
next
game
on
February
17.
Meanwhile,
Hyderabad
FC’s
eight-game
unbeaten
streak
came
to
an
end
and
they
will
try
to
bounce
back
with
against
ATK
Mohun
Bagan
on
February
14.

Key
Stats:

–
Saul
Crespo
attempted
7
tackles,
made
3
blocks
and
2
clearances

–
Nim
Dorjee
attempted
4
tackles
and
made
4
clearances

–
Diego
Mauricio
attempted
the
most
shots
(8)
in
the
match

Source:
ISL
Media