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After an exhilarating first leg that saw Odisha FC emerge with a slender advantage, they are now set to travel to Kolkata to face Mohun Bagan SG in the second leg on Sunday, April 28.
The first leg indeed offered a lot of drama. Bagan stunned the Kalinga Stadium by scoring in the third minute when Dimitri Petratos’ corner found an unmarked Manvir Singh in the penalty area. The Indian forward had the simple task of guiding the ball into the net and he successfully managed to do so.
However, Odisha, as they have shown throughout the season, bounced back, with Carlos Delgado scoring the equalizer just eight minutes after the opening goal before Roy Krishna scored a stunning solo goal to help his side take the lead.
The second half turned chaotic and even feisty, with Mohun Bagan’s Armando Sadiku being sent off around the hour mark. However, Odisha’s goalscorer Delgado also faced the same fate a few minutes later, leaving both teams with 10 men on the pitch.
Odisha eventually secured a crucial victory, maintaining their unbeaten record at home, but facing the challenge at Salt Lake Stadium in front of a massive crowd will be daunting.
Nonetheless, Sergio Lobera expressed confidence in his team’s ability to get the job done.
"Big game against a big team in a very good stadium. Difficult place to play. I am confident because our players, always this season, have shown everyone that they are ready for the games and I am excited about this challenge with a positive mentality because I think we can get a very good result and reach the final. When you are playing in front of a lot of people in a stadium like this, you are playing for something important."
Meanwhile, Antonio Habas, who guided his Mohun Bagan side to the ISL Shield, believes that his team is once again prepared to give their all and will approach the game with a positive mindset. The Spaniard told reporters:
"It’s my job to ensure that my players don’t have any sib of overconfidence. We are losing the match by a goal and we need to win to get into the final. It’s impossible to have any sign of overconfidence. Our target is to play 100% with an idea to win. We don’t have any other solution than to play for a win. This is like a final for us, not just a semi-final."
Mohun Bagan SG vs Odisha FC: Head-to-head record
Matches played: 24
OFC wins: 4
Draws: 10
MBSG wins: 10
H2H record this season: OFC wins: 2, MBSG wins: 1, Draws: 2
Mohun Bagan SG vs Odisha FC: Top goalscorers in the 2023-24 ISL season
Mohun Bagan SG: Dimitri Petratos (10 goals in 21 games)
Odisha FC: Roy Krishna (13 goals in 24 games)
Mohun Bagan SG vs Odisha FC: Stats and numbers from the 2023-24 Indian Super League season
Most saves: Vishal Kaith (46), Amrinder Singh (73)
Most assists: Manvir Singh (7), Amey Ranawade (6),
Most shots per 90: Armando Sadiku (4.2), Diego Mauricio (3.0)
Most clearances: Hector Yuste (76), Mourtada Fall (88)
