Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC escaped a rare defeat at Fortress Kalinga Stadium by the skin of their teeth here on Sunday night.
The home team bounced back twice in an eventful second half to hold NorthEast United FC 2-2 in their ISL clash.
After 66 goalless minutes, Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie gave NorthEast the lead by heading home a cross from Buanthnaglun Samte.
Odisha equalised in the 78th minute, with defender Thoiba Singh finishing off a brilliant cross from Isak.
Frenetic, end-to-end exchanges resulted in a second goal for Alaaeddine in the 83rd minute. It was his 18th strike of the season, equalling the most number of goals scored by a player in an ISL season.
There wasn’t much time left, but a relentless Odisha FC pressed hard to draw level yet again. Three minutes into stoppage time, Diego Mauricio fed Isak with a fine pass, and the 23-year-old winger made no mistake in beating NorthEast goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh.
Odisha FC, with 25 points from 18 matches, are currently in seventh place – just outside playoff qualification spot.
Odisha will travel for their next game, against Goa FC on February 6.
