Odisha FC had a golden opportunity to get back their spot in the top six with a win over FC Goa but the Kalinga Warriors could only manage a 1-1 draw which meant that Josep Gombau’s men scuffed the advantage that they had. They remain in seventh position and with the current form that Bengaluru FC are in, it looks difficult for Odisha FC to earn it back from the Blues.
Noah Saddaoui scored the opening goal for the visitors whereas Diego Mauricio restored parity as we entered the halftime break on level grounds. The second half saw the hosts in dire trouble as they were a man down due to Sahil Panwar’s sending off. However they still defended really well and did not allow the Gaurs to take home all three points.
Josep Gombau was frustrated to drop points as he knew a win here was utmost important. He shared that his team were better in the first half and could not score more goals whereas Sahil Panwar’s red card made things worse for them as they held onto a point somehow to keep themselves in contention for the playoffs.
“Disappointed with the result because we did very well, especially in the first half. It’s a game where we should have got more reward (for our efforts). I’m not saying that we deserved to win because in the end, we played 30 minutes with 10 men and FC Goa had a lot of chances. But it’s true that eleven against eleven, in the first half, the game belonged to us. We cannot make a mistake like we did in the first half because if the opposition team beats you and scores a goal, but we gave the ball to them in an easy situation in the first minute and after that you have to chase the game,” Gombau states his frustration at the post match press conference.
Gombau’s courageous approach in trusting young players always stands out as he handed a start to Isak Vanlalruatfela who scored a goal and also got an assist against Chennaiyin FC. Here against FC Goa he earned the foul from which Diego Mauricio scored the freekick and restored parity.
The Spaniard shared thatthe young winger was impressive right from the start of the season but due to family issues he could not feature early on. However now he is proving his worth as a player for the Kalinga Warriors. “He is doing very well. We liked him a lot at the beginning of the season. He is a young player and he did very well. The moment when he got a chance in the starting eleven, he had a family issue where he had to leave the club for a while,” said Gombau.
The Spaniard trusts in Vanlalruatfela’s potential and feels that the young winger can be a huge asset for Odisha FC in the coming years. “Now, he is back and we are happy to have him back because he is a player that has a lot of potential and can help us. We are happy to have him here.. He is a nice boy. He wants to work hard and wants to learn. I think Odisha FC have a good winger for the coming years,” he concluded.
Odisha FC are a point behind sixth placed Bengaluru FC and will face in-form Hyderabad FC on 10th February in their next game. With just three games left in the league stage it is now or never for Josep Gombau’s men.
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