ISL-7: Odisha FC Earn First Point With Fighting 2-2 Draw Vs 10-Man Jamshedpur

Vasco: Odisha FC fought back strongly in the second half to erase a two-goal deficit and earn a 2-2 draw against 10-man Jamshedpur FC in their ISL-7 clash at Tilak Maidan in Vasco on Sunday.

It was Odisha’s first point of the season, having lost their season opener 0-1 to Hyderabad FC.

In an eventful contest, Nerijus Valskis scored twice to give Jamshedpur a comfortable 2-0 lead in the opening session. Brazilian Diego Mauricio repaid the compliment, netting a brace in the final quarter of an hour to share honours.

Jamshedpur seemed on course for their first victory when goalkeeper TP Rehenesh was shown the red card for a hand-ball outside the penalty box, thereby denying the opponents a goal-scoring opportunity in the 74th minute. That opened the doors for Odisha, who capitalised on their one-man advantage.

Second-half substitute Mauricio reduced the margin in the 77th minute, three minutes after Rehenesh’s expulsion, and then scored again in injury time.

Lithuanian striker Nerijus Valskis had put Jamshedpur ahead from the penalty spot in the 12th minute. He doubled the lead in the 27th minute by taking advantage of a defensive lapse.