Odisha come from behind to hold Chennaiyin 1-1 in ISL

There was hardly anything to separate the two sides locking horns at Kalinga Stadium on Sunday as Odisha FC came from behind to share the honours and points with Chennaiyin FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) match in Bhubaneswar.
While this was the second draw in as many matches for hosts Odisha, the 1-1 result helped the visitors pick up their first point of the season following consecutive defeats in their first two rounds of games.
Despite a drab first 45 minutes, the Marina Machans went ahead at the stroke of half-time with Elsinho scoring his first goal in ISL. The Juggernauts drew level in the 68th minute with captain Carlos Delgado rising to the occasion.
Except for the possession, which was heavily on CFC’s side (66%), both the teams matched each other on almost every count and lacked penetration and creativity in the final third.
During the entire game each of them managed only two shots on target, while off target it was four for Odisha and six for Chennaiyin. In the first half both sides managed only one shot on target and that reflected the sides’ poor form in offence.
The breakthrough came in the first-half stoppage time when winger Farukh Choudhary’s inswinging corner was headed home by midfielder Elsinho to bring in the club’s first goal of the season to go 1-0 up. Moments later, CFC goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz preserved the lead with an acrobatic save to go into the breather with their nose ahead.
The visitors continued to press hard after the restart, with Imran Khan and Lalrinliana Hnamte introduced together in the 57th minute in place of Irfan Yadwad and the impressive Maheson Singh. With fresh legs CFC tried to maintain their attacking intent only to see it go to waste in the final third.
However, it was the home side who equalised in the 68th minute quite against the run of play, when Delgado headed home a Lalthathanga ‘Puitea’ Khawlhring assist much to the delight of the home fans. The Clifford Miranda-coached side tried to restore their lead, but the scoreline remained level at the final whistle.
With the first point of the season in their kitty, CFC will try to build momentum when they face southern rivals Kerala Blasters next on Saturday as Odisha host table toppers and heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant on Friday.