Odisha FC secured a crucial 2-1 victory over East Bengal FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, marking their second win in the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season.
Seasoned players Roy Krishna and Mourtada Fall delivered key goals for Odisha, while East Bengal’s Dimitrios Diamantakos netted a penalty late in the first half, in a match that saw East Bengal’s winless streak extend to six games.
Odisha started brightly, with Roy Krishna breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute. The Fijian forward, who has a strong record against East Bengal, scored his fourth goal against the club in ISL competition.
Krishna capitalized on a well-placed long through ball from youngster Isak Vanlalruatfela, finding ample space on the left flank. He calmly collected the ball, surged past the East Bengal defense, and slotted it into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill in a 1v1 situation.
East Bengal struggled to find momentum but was given a lifeline just before the break. Odisha midfielder Thoiba Singh’s handball in the penalty area gave East Bengal a chance to equalize. Dimitrios Diamantakos stepped up and ended his five-match scoreless run with a composed left-footed penalty, sending Odisha goalkeeper Amrinder Singh the wrong way to bring the score to 1-1 at halftime.
The second half saw Odisha reassert their control. In the 69th minute, Mourtada Fall, one of coach Sergio Lobera’s trusted stalwarts, restored Odisha’s lead. A perfectly executed free-kick from Ahmed Jahouh found Fall, who headed the ball decisively into the net, leaving East Bengal’s defense scrambling. This proved to be the decisive moment of the match, with Odisha firmly back in control.
East Bengal’s chances of a comeback were further hampered in the 76th minute when Provat Lakra received a second yellow card for a tackle on Jahouh, reducing the Red and Gold Brigade to 10 men. With a numerical disadvantage, East Bengal was unable to mount a meaningful response, allowing Odisha to comfortably see out the match.
The defeat continues a difficult season for East Bengal, who have now lost their first six ISL matches—a feat previously only matched by NorthEast United FC during the 2022-23 season when they lost 10 consecutive games. New head coach Oscar Bruzon faces a tough challenge ahead as he seeks to reverse his team’s fortunes.
For Odisha, the victory represents a vital three points as they look to build momentum in the season.
