Kolkata: There might be miles to go before laying their hands on League Winners’ Shield this season, but Sergio Lobera’s wards are showing the stuff champions are made of.
Suffering the earliest of setbacks in the opening minute of the game, hosts Odisha FC made a comeback to beat East Bengal 2-1 in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Vishnu Puthiya took an early lead for the visitors before Diego Mauricio equalised from the spot in the 40th minute. Princeton Rebello netted the winner right after the hour mark to cap a memorable comeback for the Juggernauts as they consolidated their position atop the league table with 35 points from 17 games. Mumbai City are behind them with 32 points and a game in hand.
East Bengal, on the other hand, remain rooted to the eighth spot with 18 points from 17 games. With the defeat, the red-and-golds’ chances of breaking into the top-six are looking increasingly slim.
However, with an eye on the last playoff berth, East Bengal had the perfect start in a match watched by their suspended coach Carles Cuadrat from the stand. Vishnu scored in the opening minute of the game giving Odisha defence virtually no time to settle down. Receiving a pass from Aleksandar Pantic well outside the area, the East Bengal winger broke into the rival box almost unchallenged and went past a couple of defenders before shooting a low left-footed shot from centre of box at bottom right corner.
Odisha’s Diego Mauricio earned a penalty in the 39th minute when he was brought down inside the box on the left by East Bengal right-back Mohammad Rakip. The Brazilian stepped up to take the spot-kick and delivered with a powerful shot at the bottom right corner that beat goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill .