A Deserving Draw | Odisha FC vs Mohun Bagan Match Review | ISL 24-25

byRichik Nag -

 A Deserving Draw | Odisha FC vs Mohun Bagan Match Review | ISL 24-25

petratos odisha
Courtesy: Mohun Bagan SG Media

Every Champion team has one team that it finds difficult to beat. The bogey team, as some may call it, are mostly good teams who haven't had the desired success as of yet. As for Bagan, this team has been Odisha FC since the last season.

Ever since thrashing Odisha in the first encounter of the 23/24 AFC Cup Group Stage, Bagan have had a tough time getting favourable results against the Juggernauts. Odisha have always found a way to get something out of these matches, which is a proof to the quality of the opposition.

But this season has been different. Both teams are still trying to find the top gear. Both are not operating at 100% for different reasons. Nevertheless, it was a game everyone was looking forward to. After all, Bagan were going play after a gap of 10 days. That's a lot, especially in the middle of a season.

Bagan coach Molina made a forced change as Greg Stewart had to fly back to Scotland to undergo treatment. In came birthday boy and fan favourite Dimi Petratos. The rest of the starting eleven was almost same with Kaith in goal, Alberto, Ashish, Subhasish and Aldred making up the back four. The midfield was made of Apuia and Thapa, with Manvir and Liston on the wings. Dimi and Jamie were the attackers upfront.

A capacity crowd at the Kalinga was present and the stage was set. Bagan fans painted the air green and maroon, extending the invitation to the players to step up and get the job done. The Chief Minister of Odisha also graced the match with his presence.

First Half: Damage Control


Bagan hoped to get the job done this time around, but got off to the worst possible start. Amey Ranawade's cross was met by Ashish Rai's foot and what looked like a half hearted goal bound pass had to be collected by Vishal Kaith. The referee adjudged this to have been a back pass, and hence Odisha won a free kick from merely 5 yards outside the goal. And insult was added to injury as the goal was scored, by none other than Bagan's former man Hugo Boumous. 

Boumous didn't stop himself from celebrating, which was expected as well. During January this year, he was axed from the squad with little communication from the club to the fans. The man who once shouldered Bagan's hopes and aspirations was let go in the middle of the season. Boumous' goal sparked widespread celebrations from the whole stadium. Odisha lead the match 1-0 inside 4 minutes.

Bagan tried to settle the scores as they kept growing into the game. Pass after pass, Bagan looked coming closer and closer. Bagan won a lot of corners, took shots, but just couldn't get the desired finish. Odisha seemed to have been restricted to their own half. Dimi looked threatening as he came close to levelling the scores, only to see his shot being saved by Amrinder. But the wait didn't last long as Bagan eventually got their reward.

35th minutes into the game, Dimi took the outswinging corner. Bagan had built up the pressure and Manvir was the one who capitalised. A brilliant header, worthy of the title "Indian Ronaldo" he has received from his colleagues, gave Amrinder no chance as he helplessly tried to scramble the ball out of his net. 

The bullet header was met with equal jubilation from the Bagan fans. The iconic thigh five celebration was out. Bagan had drawn level, and it was 2 of our trusty old boys who combined for the goal. One all at the end of 35 minutes.

The rest of the first half was rather uneventful as the score was 1-1 at the halftime. Bagan scored a great goal but still were not leading thanks to the early folly. The second half had to be immense from the players if Bagan were to keep on the chase for the top position in the league.

Second Half: Missed Opportunities


The second half was all about Vishal Kaith proving why he's India's best goalkeeper at the moment. Save after save after save. Sometimes a fingertips stop, sometimes a firm punch. The great wall of India stood tall against everything. 

Bagan's old boys Roy Krishna, Puitea and Boumous tried their best, so did Jahouh and Amey, putting in the crosses, taking the shots. But Vishal stood tall. Bagan had to withstand the storm of a typical Lobera side. But they did have the chance to get the goal. 

The ball fell to Dimi, who would have scored the goal 9/10 times, yet somehow took the shot straight at Amrinder. Deepak Tangri's final shot for Bagan summed up the whole game. A frustrating night. The Kalinga had always been a tough away stadium to play in, and yesterday was no different. Bagan got a single point from the game, thus failing to capitalise on the slip up from Bengaluru FC.

Bagan has another big gap, with our next game on 23rd November against Jamshedpur FC. How the squad takes care of themselves during this time will be of utmost importance.

The team is still finding for top form that we saw during the early parts and the second half of last season. How long will the search continue? Only time would tell.

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Richik Nag

Hello and welcome to my blog! I look forward to sharing my views with you. So do support by following my blog and sharing your valuable feedback. Follow me on Instagram; @rikzerka007

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