Chennaiyin FC squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Odisha in the 2024-25 Indian Premier League match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday Football Club (Odisha FC).
Wilma Jordan Gill combined with Connor Shields twice to give Chennaiyin the lead in the second half, but goals from Dorilton Gomez Nascimento and an injury-time penalty An own goal helped the visitors leave with a point.
In the opening minutes of the game, Oceania FC defender Murtada Fall received Hugo Boumous’s free kick and completed the only shot attempt.
Chennaiyin’s first shot came from Lukas Brambilla, who turned and volleyed past the goal in the 15th minute. The Brazilian was CFC’s standout player in the first period, constantly troubling OFC’s defense with his silky feet and perfect passes into the penalty area.
New signing Rahul KP, who started for the visitors, caused problems for the returning Ankit Mukherjee in the early stages of the game, but he failed to establish himself as the game progressed.
ALSO READ | NorthEast United aim to beat struggling Punjab FC in the league
Sergio Lobera thought his side would take the lead in the 20th minute when Rohit Kumar collected the ball in the box after a fine run from Hugo Boumous. However, the Indian midfielder’s shot was tame, allowing CFC goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz to easily save it.
Moments later, at the other end, Irfan Yadwad showed some fantastic footwork to beat his man and get into the box from the left. However, the youngster himself fired the ball from a tight angle straight at Amrinder Singh, much to the dismay of his teammates inside the box.
The home team started the second quarter on fire, with Brambilla’s shot from outside the penalty area testing Amrinder.
CFC took the lead three minutes into the first half thanks to a costly mistake by Amrinder. The Oceania goalkeeper’s half-hearted pass after the goal kick was deftly intercepted by Shields. He took a few touches into the penalty area and then passed the ball to Gill, who made no mistake and put the ball into the net.
Five minutes later, the two foreigners joined forces again to extend the lead. Shields picked up the ball at the midfield line, accelerated down the left wing and found Gill again in the box. The Colombian had enough time to take a touch and shoot past Amrinder for his eighth goal of the season.
He should have completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute, receiving a cross from Brambilla, but ended up hitting the left post with his header.
OFC’s midfield looked tired without the suspended Ahmed Jahhouh and for much of the game they were unable to break through a dynamic CFC backline with captain Ryan Edwards was absent due to illness.
Also Read | ISL 2024-25 Points Table
However, Lobera’s substitutions worked their magic and Lobera pulled a goal back with ten minutes left in normal time after substitute Diego Mauricio showed his physicality to burst into the box. His shot was far from the goal and was blocked into the net by the onrushing Dorilton.
Four minutes into stoppage time, Mauricio almost scored the visitors’ second goal, but his powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area was blocked by the crossbar.
Four minutes later, he delivered a provocative cross into the six-yard area and Rahul’s acrobatic close-range shot hit the post, bounced off goalkeeper Nawaz and rolled into the net.
As a result, CFC is in tenth place with 16 points from 15 games, while OFC is in seventh place with 21 points from the same number of games.
