Bhubaneswar: It was a very intense match between the two teams. Both sides attacked quite a bit and tackles were also put in. The draw meant Juggernauts remained in seventh place, with 24 points.
In just 2 minutes of the game, Alvaro Garcia seizes the opportunity for FC Goa on a mishandled pass in the middle of the field. He launches a counterattack with assistance from both sides. He places it in Noah Sadaoui’s path to his left, close to the edge of the box. The latter, who had a strong first touch, drilled it low and to Amrinder Singh’s left to give FCG the early lead.
In the 6th minute, Isak’s shot deflects off the FCG defender to create a great chance for Pedro, but his header went wide. OFC had been attempting to get back into the game ever since giving up the first goal, but their attempts to do so had been unsuccessful.
OFC grew in the game as time progressed, they started to threaten the FCG later in the half and in the 43rd minute, Diego Mauricio scored a spectacular free kick to give OFC the lead.
Noah took a shot from outside the box, it was low and to the right of the home side goalkeeper who dived and saved it. OFC made a substitute for the game in the 60th minute as they brought Jerry Mawihmingthanga for Isak Vanlalruatfela.
In the 67th minute, OFC were down a man after Sahil Panwar tackled them from behind. The second yellow had been shown to him while he was on a yellow.
As part of the OFC Ambassadors Programme, Odisha FC invited Akash Dasnayak and Mohammad Shahid Jabbar to the match. Akash Dasnayak popularly known by the film industry name as Akash is an Odia film actor and also the MLA of Korei Constituency. Mohammad Shahid Jabbar is an Indian football coach. He served as the Head Coach of the India Women’s National Football Team from 2010 to 2012 and also served as the Head Coach of the Odisha Women’s Football Team. They were felicitated with the OFC jersey by our Club President, Raj Athwal.