Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC provided their fans relief and joy by earning the first points of ISL 2024-25, at Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.
Diego Mauricio and Mourtada Fall scored in the first session to set up a 2-1 win over Jamshedpur FC.
Mourtada let in an own goal in the 62nd minute, but that wasn’t enough for the visiting team to salvage a draw.
Odisha FC thus managed to brush aside a nightmarish start to the season, having gone down 2-3 to Chennaiyin FC at Fortress Kalinga before losing 1-2 to Punjab FC at Delhi.
The Kalinga Warriors looked to be a team on a mission from the kick-off. They took the lead in the 20th minute following brilliant combination play. Winger Isak Vanlalruatfela advanced the ball to Hugo Boumous, who in turn set up Diego to shoot home.
Three minutes before half-time, a towering header by Fall off a precise Boumous corner found the back of the Jamshedpur net.
There was a momentary lapse by Fall just past the hour-mark as he guided the ball into his own net in trying to make a goalmouth clearance. However, that didn’t cost Sergio Lobera’s men in the end.
Odisha FC will next face Kerala Blasters at home on October 3.
