Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC qualified for the semifinals of the Kalinga Super Cup in style on Monday.
Needing a draw to top Group D and make the last-four stage, Odisha beat FC Goa 3-2 at Kalinga Stadium to finish with an all-win record, thanks to Mourtada Fall’s brace.
Interestingly, all five goals came in the second session.
Odisha FC will face Group C winners Mumbai City FC in the second semifinal on October 25. A day earlier, Group A toppers East Bengal will confront Group B champions Jamshedpur FC in the first semifinal.
The final match in the group league stage failed to produce a goal in the first 45 minutes.
After the change of ends, Odisha FC upped the ante and the floodgates opened.
Moroccan Ahmed Jahouh converted a penalty in the 51st minute to send the home fans into ecstacy. Mourtada then took centrestage, scoring twice in the space of five minutes with a brace of powerful and accurate headers.
Staring at an exit, FC Goa rebounded with a couple of goals through Carlos Martinez. They needed two more, but Odisha’s defence denied them further success.
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