Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC needed just one point to seal a playoff berth in ISL-9. Unfortunately, the Juggernauts disappointed their fans at Kalinga Stadium here on Wednesday night to go down 0-2 against already-eliminated Jamshedpur FC.
It was only their second loss in 10 home games at Fortress Kalinga, but couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Odisha FC thus finished their league engagements with 30 points from 20 matches of which they won 9, drew 3 and lost 8.
Odisha FC are still in sixth place, but their hope of qualifying for the playoff stage is no longer in their hands. For them to finish in the top-6, FC Goa will have to either lose or draw with Bengaluru FC in the final league fixture on Thursday evening.
If Goa manage to win at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium, they will finish level on points with Odisha FC (30 each). But a better head-to-head record will help FC Goa pip Odisha to sixth place. Odisha had lost 0-3 to Goa away in October and drawn 1-1 at home earlier this month.
Unbeaten in their last 4 games (2 draws followed by 2 wins), Odisha FC were expected to get the better of 10th-placed Jamshedpur in familiar surroundings.
But it was Jamshedpur who dominated proceedings. After a goalless first session, Harry Sawyer took advantage of some sloppy Odisha defending to score after 61 minutes.
Within 2 minutes, FC Goa doubled their advantage thanks to a crisp finish by substitute forward Ritwik Das.
Stung by the double blow, Odisha showed desperation in raiding the rival citadel. The home team did create some chances, but Diego Mauricio failed to finish two promising moves.
It wasn’t Odisha’s night, Leaving them to pray for a Bengaluru win (or draw) against Goa in 24 hours’ time.
