ISL-8: Odisha FC End 3-Match Winless Run, Climb Back To 6th

Vasco: A determined Odisha FC overcame SC East Bengal 2-1 at Tilak Maidan on Monday evening to snap a three-match winless run in ISL-8, thus moving up to sixth place in the standings and very much staying in the reckoning for a playoff berth.

Javier Hernandez and Jonathas Cristian were Odisha’s stars of the show, both scoring and also setting up the other to ensure three points for his team. With their sixth win in 15 matches, Odisha FC took their tally to 21 points to be just 2 points adrift of second-placed Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC.

Odisha went ahead in the 23rd minute when Jonathas Cristian tapped home a square ball from Hernandez who did the spadework after getting past two East Bengal defenders.

Trailing by a goal at half-time, East Bengal turned on the heat after change of ends and found the equalizer in the 64th minute with Antonio Perosevic scoring off a Franjo Prce assist.

Having survived another close call, Odisha FC came back strongly to regain the lead through Hernandez after 74 minutes.

Hernandez would have made it 3-0 in the dying minutes of the game had it not been for a goalline clearance by Hira Mondal.

Odisha FC will look to keep their momentum going when they face Mumbai City FC on February 13 in their quest for a top-four finish.

East Bengal are out of reckoning for a playoff berth, having managed just 10 points from 16 games.