Odisha FC 2-0 Chennaiyin FC: 3 Reasons why the hosts won comfortably

Odisha FC cruised past Chennaiyin FC 2-0 on a slightly dodgy pitch at the Kalinga Stadium to move to within a point of Mumbai City FC, who sit fourth. The win also meant that the hosts picked up their second consecutive victory at home, before they prepare to welcome the Islanders on the 11th of January.

The game began with both sides looking to come to grips with the conditions on offer. And, though the pair failed to settle into any proper rhythm, there were a flurry of chances just near the 20-minute mark.

However, it wasn’t until the 37th minute that the net was bulged when Jerry Mawihmingthanga capitalized on some slack defending to slot the ball into the back of the net.

Six minutes later, Vinit Rai conjured a sensational strike from the edge of the box to double the hosts’ tally. The visitors tried to get back into the encounter after the break but weren’t able to create enough openings to trouble Odisha’s rear-guard.

Here is a look at the three reasons why the home side won.

#3 Odisha dominate the middle third

Vinit scored the second goal for Odisha FC

Odisha began the encounter with Marcos Tebar and Vinit acting as the defensive midfield combination whereas Xisco Hernandez functioned as the No.10. Thus, on paper, the hosts seemed to boast a triumvirate capable of controlling the game and also creating enough chances in the offensive third. And, that is exactly how the narrative transpired as the trio put in accomplished displays in the centre of the park.

Tebar and Vinit were brilliant as they carried out their defensive tasks with aplomb. The latter made 6 clearances, 5 successful tackles, 3 blocks and 1 interception.

The Spaniard, meanwhile, dominated the middle third and set the tempo of the match to perfection. He displayed metronomic precision while pinging the ball from side to side and ended the encounter with 98 touches, 58 completed passes, 4 successful tackles, 5 interceptions and most importantly, 12 clearances.

Xisco, on the other hand, acted as the ideal link between the midfield and attack and was a handful for the Chennaiyin defence throughout the contest. He created 3 chances, had 53 touches of the ball and also, drew 3 fouls.

Additionally, he fulfilled his defensive duties as he tracked back diligently and effected 2 clearances, 1 interception and popped up with a brace of blocks.

Thus, courtesy the efficient display of their midfield trio, Odisha had ensured that the visitors didn’t establish a foothold in the game. And, while Chennaiyin enjoyed much more of the ball in the second period, they were largely left to feed off scraps, thereby emphasizing the colossal performances of Tebar, Vinit and Xisco.

#2 Individual mistakes haunt Chennaiyin FC

Valskis (C) skied his spot-kick over the bar

At the start of the 2019-20 ISL season, Chennaiyin FC represented a team in absolute turmoil. John Gregory couldn’t buy a victory and subsequently, was given the boot as the Marina Machans hoped to resurrect a faltering season.

In the process, Owen Coyle was brought into the fold as the Englishman was looked upon as the ideal candidate to provide short-term and long-term success. Since then, Chennaiyin FC have improved massively and have seemed a team that has chalked out its attacking and defensive plans well in advance, in stark contrast to the account they had been giving of themselves in the opening months.

During that wretched run of form early, the southern outfit also had to deal with several of its players turning in abject displays and indulging in elementary errors. And, rather, unfortunately, that trend reared its ugly head on Monday too.

The visitors started the game well and weren’t accorded any shaky moments at the back at the outset. However, that changed rather swiftly after the 20th minute as they produced a series of individual mistakes.

In the 21st minute, Vishal Kaith was let off enormously after he found himself in no man’s land when dealing with a corner off the right flank. A few minutes later, Chennaiyin had the opportunity to nudge ahead but Nerijus Valskis skied his spot-kick into the second tier.

And, that duration of patchy play was embodied in the 37th minute when they produced two gaffes in quick succession.

After Aridane drilled the ball across the box, Kaith inexplicably missed the ball completely, although he did have Nandhakumar for company. Once the cross was past the keeper, Laldinliana Renthlei seemed primed to hoof the ball to safety.

Yet, rather comically, the right back swiped at thin air, meaning that Jerry M was presented an open goal to commence the scoring.

Thus, a couple of slip-ups had meant that Chennaiyin had fluffed their chance to get into the ascendancy. And, even though they improved in the second half, they were left ruing those blunders before the break.

#1 Odisha portray a cutting edge in the final third

Odisha showcased enough composure in the final third

On the 6th of January, Chennaiyin FC and Odisha FC engrossed themselves in an extremely scrappy encounter on an equally scruffy surface at the Kalinga Stadium. Unsurprisingly, the contest morphed into one where poetry took a back-seat, thereby encourage the more prosaic methods of goal-scoring to come to the fore.

However, the contentious nature of the pitch meant that there were sloppy moments galore too as both teams took turns to scuff their attempted clearances while passes were also not hit with the adequate conviction.

Thus, as the game progressed, many felt that the game would eventually be defined by the side that would be able to showcase just a hint of composure and decisiveness in the final third. And, fortunately for the thousands in attendance, Odisha cast themselves as the more clinical outfit.

During the opening 45 minutes, the hosts got in behind Chennaiyin’s defensive line on a few occasions. Yet, for the opening half an hour, they couldn’t muster the requisite end product as several promising opportunities were spurned.

In the 21st minute, Odisha astonishingly had a goal ruled out for a foul that seemed non-existent whereas Nandhakumar contrived to blaze his shot over the bar from inside the penalty area a minute later.

Thereafter, Aridane Santana indulged in a bit of wayward finishing when he lashed his shot into the stands, with the goal gaping.

Luckily, in the 37th minute, the aforementioned Santana and Xisco Hernandez provided a shade of quality in the offensive third. The latter picked out the former’s run expertly and the striker drilled the ball into the box. Nandhakumar then left the ball cleverly for the onrushing Jerry M, who finished into an empty net.

A couple of minutes before half time, Odisha again weaved a pretty pattern around the box and Marcos Tebar squared the ball for Vinit. The Indian lined up a shot and rifled his strike beyond the keeper as the home side entered the break with a one-goal cushion in the bag.

Thus, despite free-flowing football being at a premium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha had done just enough to dig out a couple of goals, in addition to the vast stretches of turf.