Bengaluru FC squandered a two-goal advantage and fell to a 2-3 defeat against Odisha FC in a dramatic Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The loss, Bengaluru’s fourth consecutive match without a win, dented their hopes of securing a top-two finish and a direct semifinal berth.
Bengaluru began brightly, with Edgar Mendez and Sunil Chhetri producing moments of magic early on. In the 10th minute, Mendez controlled a lofted pass with finesse before finding the back of the net. Just three minutes later, Chhetri dazzled the crowd by weaving past four defenders and finishing expertly, giving Bengaluru a commanding 2-0 lead.
However, the match took a decisive turn when Naorem Roshan’s costly backpass in the 29th minute allowed Odisha’s Diego Mauricio to pounce. Mauricio was brought down by Bengaluru defender Aleksandar Jovanovic inside the box, leading to a penalty and a red card for Jovanovic. Mauricio converted the spot-kick to halve the deficit.
The Brazilian striker struck again in the 38th minute after Roshan was penalized for handling the ball in the box. Mauricio’s powerful second penalty brought Odisha level before halftime, piling the pressure on the 10-man Bengaluru side.
After the interval, Bengaluru appeared eager to reclaim control, returning to the field before their opponents in a show of intent. However, Odisha capitalized on their numerical advantage just five minutes into the second half. Jerry Mawihmingthanga bundled in a loose ball from close range to complete Odisha’s remarkable comeback and seal the victory.
Despite Bengaluru’s spirited attempts to find an equalizer, Odisha’s defense held firm to secure the win. The result saw Odisha climb to sixth place in the table with 24 points from 17 matches, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Bengaluru, meanwhile, remained third with 28 points from the same number of games but saw their top-two aspirations fade further.
Head coach Gerard Zaragoza now faces mounting pressure, with his team’s winless streak stretching to four games. Reflecting on the defeat, Zaragoza will undoubtedly rue Roshan’s errors and the costly dismissal of Jovanovic, which turned the tide of the match.
Match Summary:
Bengaluru FC 2 (Mendez 10, Chhetri 13)
Odisha FC 3 (Mauricio 29 P, 38 P, Mawihmingthanga 50)
