In a gripping encounter at the Mumbai Football Arena, Odisha FC managed to hold Mumbai City FC to a 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Sunday. The match saw an intense battle as both teams sought control, but the early goals from Roy Krishna and Nikolaos Karelis eventually locked the teams in a stalemate.
Odisha took the lead early in the first half when Roy Krishna capitalized on a defensive blunder. The breakthrough came in the 14th minute after Mumbai defender Valpuia misjudged a pass intended for goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa. Krishna swiftly intercepted and converted the mistake into a goal, giving Odisha the advantage.
Mumbai City, however, responded with determination and composure. The Islanders, led by captain Lallianzuala Chhangte, began pressing higher and found rhythm through quick passing. Just nine minutes after Krishna’s opener, Chhangte created the equalizer with a clever pass to Nikolaos Karelis.
Positioned near the goal line, Chhangte sent a precise cross to Karelis, who tapped the ball past Odisha’s goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 23rd minute.
The match then evolved into a more tactical affair, with both teams creating opportunities. Former Mumbai City FC keeper Amrinder Singh proved invaluable for Odisha in the second half. His heroics kept the Juggernauts in contention, first with a crucial save from Chhangte’s on-target strike in the 61st minute, and later with quick stops from PN Noufal and Jon Toral.
Odisha faced a major setback in the 80th minute when midfielder Ahmed Jahouh was shown a red card, reducing the visitors to ten men. Despite the disadvantage, Odisha FC’s defense held firm under increased pressure from Mumbai, displaying resilience in the closing stages.
With the result, Odisha moves up to seventh place on the ISL table, amassing eight points from six matches. Mumbai City, meanwhile, finds itself in ninth position with six points from six games, struggling to gain momentum early in the season.
Both teams will look to build on the positives from this matchup as the league season progresses, with Odisha keen to climb higher and Mumbai City eager to regain form and break out of their lower-table standing.
