KOLKATA: With their back against the wall, Odisha FC fought back to beat 10-man Bengaluru FC 3-2 in their fifth match of Indian Super League at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Needing to win the game to move out of the bottom half of the table, Odisha incurred two early jolts with Sunil Chhetri (8') and Ryan Williams (18') scoring for the visitors. However, the Juggernauts were not going to sit back.
Midfielder Lalthanga Khawlhring reduced the margin five minutes after leaking the second goal when he scored from an assist by Odisha's man of all season Jerry Mawihmingthanga. Odisha kept up the pressure on the Blues and it bore fruit at the stroke of half-time when Mizo striker Isak Vanlalruatfela converted a Cy Goddard assist to beat Bengaluru custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for the equaliser.
Having the momentum with them after the change of sides, Odisha got an advantage when Bengaluru defender Naorem Roshan Singh was given the marching orders for his second yellow-card offence in the 52nd minute of the game. Roshan had received the first caution just before the half-time whistle.
With a man advantage, Odisha upped the ante further and at the stroke of hour mark defender Amey Ranawade's strike gave the home side the much-awaited lead. The former ISL champions tried their best to draw parity but it was never to be thanks to an alert Kalinga Warriors defence.
The second win of the ISL season helps Odisha move up two spots on the table to sixth position with seven points after five games while BFC stayed on the 10th spot.
Odisha will host NorthEast United in their next game on Friday while Bengaluru will travel to Hyderabad to take on the Nizams on Saturday.
