Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant contests in the Indian Super League (ISL) have usually gone one way rather than the other as the Mariners are unbeaten in the league against the Kalinga Warriors.
The Kolkata giants have won four times with five meetings between the two teams ending in draws.
However, this season, there has been very little to choose between the two teams as they are set to meet in the two-legged semi-final tie.
Mohun Bagan SG and Odisha FC have already faced each other four times this season – twice in the ISL and twice in the AFC Cup. Both teams won the away games in Asia while the two matches in the league ended level-pegging.
Their frequent meetings this season have thus added a new dimension to this semi-final with both teams and head coaches very well aware of the other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Ahead of the big semi-final showdown, here is a detailed look at every encounter between the two teams this season.
Odisha FC 0-4 Mohun Bagan SG, AFC Cup, September 19, 2023
Goals and sending offs:
MBSG: Sahal Abdul Samad 46′, Dimitri Petratos 67′, 82′, Liston Colaco 79′
OFC: Mourtada Fall (Red Card) 42′
Teams
Odisha FC XI (4-3-3): Amrinder Singh, Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Ahmed Jahouh, Lenny Rodrigues, Cy Goddard, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Diego Mauricio, Roy Krishna
Mohun Bagan SG XI (3-5-2): Vishal Kaith, Anwar Ali, Hector Yuste, Brendan Hamill, Manvir Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Hugo Boumous, Dimitri Petratos, Armando Sadiku
The encounter preceded the ISL campaign for the two teams and Juan Ferrando’s side laid down an early marker with a dominant 4-0 win over Odisha FC, a team that had significantly strengthened in the summer and had emerged as one of the leading contenders for the League Shield title.
The first half was goalless but Odisha FC were dealt a body blow when Fall was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 42nd minute. A game which was on the knife edge completely turned the visitors’ way in the second half as they milked their numerical advantage to record a resounding win.
Lobera’s Odisha FC transformation received a rude reality check and the Mariners fresh from a Durand Cup triumph received the perfect tonic ahead of their league season.
Mohun Bagan SG 2-5 Odisha FC, AFC Cup, November 27, 2023
Goals and Sending Offs:
MBSG: Hugo Boumous 17′, Kiyan Nassiri 53′
OFC: Roy Krishna 29, Diego Mauricio 32′, Cy Goddard 41′, Aniket Jadhav 90+2′, Isak Vanlalruatfela 90+5′
Teams:
Mohun Bagan SG XI (3-4-1-2): Vishal Kaith, Brendan Hamill, Hector Yustem Subhasish Bose, Asish Rai, Hugo Boumous, Glan Martins, Liston Colaco, Jason Cummings, Armando Sadiku
Odisha FC XI (4-2-3-1): Amrinder Singh, Amey Ranawade, Narender Gahlot, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Ahmed Jahouh, Lalthathanga Khawlring, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Cy Goddard, Roy Krishna, Diego Mauricio
The two teams clashed once again over two months apart in the AFC Cup with Odisha FC in desperate need of a victory. The game didn’t get off to a perfect start according to them as Boumous fired the home side in front but Odisha FC who were on a mission hit back with goals from Krishna, Mauricio and Goddard to take a 3-1 half-time lead .
Ferrando responded in the second half by throwing in Nassiri in place of Sadiku and Thapa in place of Martins. The changes made an impact as Nassiri halved the deficit within minutes of coming on. However, Odisha FC who were constantly able to bypass the Mariners midfield continued to threaten.
Eventually in stoppage time as the Mariners chased the equaliser, the Kalinga Warriors profited on the counter-attack as Jadhav and Isak scored to put an added sheen on the result. This was Odisha FC’s first win over Mohun Bagan SG and remains the only one to date.
Mohun Bagan 2-2 Odisha FC, ISL, December 6, 2023
Goals and Sending Offs:
MBSG: Armando Sadiku 58′, 90+4′
OFC: Ahmed Jahouh 31′ (Pen), 45+3′, Diego Mauricio (Red Card) 90+9′
Teams:
Mohun Bagan SG (4-1-3-2): Vishal Kaith, Asish Rai, Brendan Hamill, Hector Yuste, Subhasish Bose, Anirudh Thapa, Kiyan Nassiri, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco, Armando Sadiku, Jason Cummings
Odisha FC (4-2-3-1): Amrinder Singh, Amey Ranawade, Narender Gahlot, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Ahmed Jahouh, Lalthathanga Khawlring, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Cy Goddard, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Diego Mauricio
The two sides met again for their first meeting in the ISL this season just nine days after Odisha FC’s big win in the AFC Cup. Ferrando named a very attacking line-up with a few tweaks to the system with Lobera trusting the same formation with a few tweaks in personnel.
The confidence gained from the win a few days ago was reflected in the first half as a Jhouh brace catapulted Odisha FC into a 2-0 lead. Ferrando brought on Martins and Lalrinliana Hnamte either side of the break to bring some energy into their midfield with Lobera responding with two changes of his own.
However, a goal from Sadiku gave the Mariners the impetus in the second half but had to wait until stoppage time to see Sadiku score again and restore parity. The evening soured further for the visitors as Mauricio saw red for a second booking. Odisha FC’s chance of securing their first win over the Mariners in the ISL had slipped away.
Odisha FC 0-0 Mohun Bagan SG, ISL, February 24, 2023
Goals and Sending Offs: SO
Teams:
Odisha FC (4-3-3): Amrinder Singh, Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Princeton Rebello, Lalthathanga Khawlring, Lenny Rodriguez, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Diego Mauricio, Roy Krishna
Mohun Bagan SG (3-1-4-2): Vishal Kaith, Anwar Ali, Hector Yuste, Subhasish Bose, Asish Rai, Sahal Abdul Samad, Joni Kauko, Manvir Singh, Dimitri Petratos, Armando Sadiku
With Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan SG firmly in the race for the League Shield, the two teams met again for the fourth time this season in the league in February and the pressure of the high stakes was evident in which the two teams approached the game.
It was a cagey affair from minute one to last as neither team was able to grab all three points. As it turned out, this point away from home proved to be a really good point as they went on to win the Shield by that solitary point.
Tags: recap encounters season
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