In a thrilling encounter in the Indian Super League (ISL), Mumbai City FC managed to secure a 2-2 draw against Odisha FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. This match had an emotional element as Odisha FC’s head coach, Sergio Lobera, faced his former club, resulting in intense action that left little to separate the two teams. Both sides share similar footballing philosophies and styles of play, which made it a highly-anticipated showdown in the 10th season of the tournament.
The game began with both teams vying for control, leading to an interesting battle in the midfield. In the 42nd minute, Greg Stewart had a promising free-kick opportunity for Mumbai City FC but narrowly missed the target, despite displaying impeccable technique.
Odisha FC took the lead after a goalkeeping error by Mumbai’s Mohammad Nawaz, allowing Jerry Mawihmingthanga to score into an open goal. However, Mumbai City FC fought back and equalized in the 47th minute when Rostyn Griffiths headed home a brilliant curling cross from Stewart, giving the away team a much-needed equalizer.
The game seemed destined to end in a draw for a significant portion of the match, but both teams managed to add one more goal each to their tally. In the 75th minute, Roy Krishna of Odisha FC converted a penalty after Nawaz fouled him inside the box. However, Mumbai City FC’s determination shone through, and in the 88th minute, Jorge Pereyra Díaz headed in a decisive lateral pass from Vikram Pratap Singh to level the score once again.
As the game neared its end, both teams seemed content with sharing a point each. While they made efforts to seek an injury-time winner, they also ensured their defenses held strong enough to secure the draw.
Rostyn Griffiths was the standout performer of the match, contributing not only with a goal but also with three tackles, one interception, and an impressive 89% passing accuracy.
Looking ahead, Odisha FC will face FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium on October 7 in their next ISL fixture, while Mumbai City FC will host Kerala Blasters FC on October 8.
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