Kalinga Super Cup: All-Win Odisha FC Storm Into Semis To Set Up Clash With Mumbai

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.