Historic Feat: Odisha FC Qualify For AFC Cup Main Round For 1st Time As Diego Slams Hattrick

Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC’s season continues to get better.

Having qualified for the ISL playoff stage for the first time, the Juggernauts tamed Bengaluru FC in the final to lift the Hero Super Cup earlier this month.

And now, for the first time, they have booked a berth in the AFC Cup group stage, the continental club championship of Asia.

The Super Cup champions, up against I-League winners Gokulam Kerala FC, proved too strong and ran out 3-1 victors at Kozhikode’s EMS Corporation Stadium on Saturday evening.

Prolific Brazilian striker Diego Mauricio was the chief architect of Odisha FC’s historic victory, as he scored all three goals.

Diego put Odisha FC 2-up with strikes in the 18th and 32nd minutes. Noor pulled one back in the 36th minute as Odisha led 2-1 at half-time.

Needing another goal to make it safe, Diego obliged again 8 minutes after half-time, blasting his shot past the Gokulam goalkeeper.