Odisha FC staged a spirited comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Kerala Blasters in their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 match at the Kalinga Stadium. The home side erased a two-goal deficit, with strikes from Diego Mauricio and an own goal by Alexandre Coeff cancelling out Kerala’s early lead.
Kerala Blasters started brightly, taking control of the game early. In the 18th minute, Noah Sadaoui found the back of the net, capitalizing on a well-worked move to put the visitors ahead. Just three minutes later, Jesus Jimenez doubled Kerala’s advantage, sending Odisha into shock with a swift and precise finish, making it 2-0.
However, Odisha FC refused to crumble under pressure. In the 26th minute, a bit of fortune came their way when Kerala’s Alexandre Coeff inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving Odisha a lifeline.
This boost in momentum spurred the home team on, and it wasn’t long before they found an equalizer. In the 36th minute, Brazilian striker Diego Mauricio slotted in a composed finish to level the scoreline at 2-2, much to the delight of the home fans.
Both teams exchanged blows in the first half, with opportunities flowing at both ends. Danish Farooq nearly gave Kerala a third goal, intercepting a pass from Mourtada Fall, only for Fall to recover and block the shot for a corner.
On the other end, Hugo Boumous created a chance for Diego Mauricio inside the six-yard box, but the Brazilian’s shot went wide, giving Kerala goalkeeper Sachin Suresh an easy save.
The second half was a tense affair, with both sides battling fiercely to find a winner. Odisha’s substitute Rahim Ali was brought down inside the box, but despite strong protests, the referee waved play on. Kerala’s Noah Sadaoui also appeared to be fouled in a similar incident, but the referee chose not to award a penalty.
As the clock ticked down, Odisha’s Thoiba Singh nearly created a late scare with a misjudged pass back to goalkeeper Amrinder, but Kerala’s Adrian Luna couldn’t capitalize, with the ball deflecting out for a goal-kick. Both managers, Sergio Lobera of Odisha and Mikael Stahre of Kerala, were booked for their heated protests during the match.
The draw leaves Kerala Blasters in fourth place in the ISL standings, while Odisha FC moves up to ninth. Both teams will look to secure victories in their upcoming matches—Odisha FC hosts East Bengal on October 22, while Kerala Blasters face Mohammedan SC in Kolkata on October 20.
