Odisha FC 2-0 Chennaiyin FC: 3 Reasons why the hosts won comfortably | ISL 2019-20

#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.