ISL: Odisha FC Blow Away Hyderabad 3-1 With 2nd-Half Blitz, Stay In Playoff Race

Bhubaneswar: A brilliant second-half onslaught helped Odisha FC overpower Hyderabad FC 3-1 in their ISL clash at Kalinga Stadium here on Friday night.

Down 0-1 at half time, after Stefan Sapic scored in the 30th minute, the Kalinga Warriors came out all charged up in the second session. Within four minutes, they were ahead in the game.

Senegalese Mourtada Fall’s powerful and well-directed header off Hugo Boumous’ corner kick found the back of the net in the 47th minute. Two minutes later, Frenchman Boumous was again in the thick of action, slotting the ball home from inside the box.

Odisha FC, after defending well to deny Hyderabad a couple of times, added a third goal in the 70th minute when Rahim Ali scored past Arshdeep Singh from a tight angle.

Odisha, with 29 points from 21 matches, are still in seventh place – just outside playoff qualification spot.

The Kalinga Warriors will have to win at least two of their remaining three games to finish in the top 6. They face runaway leaders Mohun Bagan on February 23 at Salt Lake Stadium, followed by matches against Mohammedan Sporting at home on February 28 before the final one on the road against Jamshedpur FC on March 5.