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 t
hree 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.