Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera lauded his team’s fighting spirit despite missing some key players against Kerala Blasters FC. The Kalinga Warriors suffered a 2-3 loss against the Yellow Tuskers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi on Tuesday in the ongoing Indian Super League.

Odisha’s midfielder Mawihmingthanga scored in the fourth minute to put his team in front. However, Kwame Peprah and Jesus Jimenez scored in the second half to put their team in the lead.

But Dori equalized for the visitors in the 80th minute of the game. However, Kerala Blasters FC’s talisman Noah Sadaoui scored in the stoppage time to seal a thrilling win for his team.

“Today was difficult for me as a coach because we missed a lot of key players, five of them, and maybe two from the starting XI,” Lobera said at the post-match press conference.

“In the first half, we used this plan to play two strikers, and they worked well. But in the second half, when we were suffering, it was the moment we missed some players. We played two games in a short time, and we had only 16 players, six substitutions, with two goalkeepers. It was not easy, but finally we scored the second goal,” he added.

The Spaniard showered praise on the team’s mentality despite being reduced to 10-man. Carlos Javier Delgado Rodríguez received a second yellow card in the 83rd minute.

“I love the mentality of the team because when you are 2-2 – playing away and with 10 players, the most important priority is to not go for the third goal. And I think we went for the game, even with the draw, even with 10 players. And the collective spirit of my team, the fight they did in this game, was amazing,” stated the Spaniard.

Odisha FC will next take on Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on 22nd January.