VP Suhair (right) with teammates after scoring the opener in Bhubaneswar on Friday
Odisha FC’s finishing woes continued to haunt them at home as well as they were held to a 1-1 draw by wooden spooners Mohammedan Sporting Club in an Indian Super League (ISL) game at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday.For the Kolkata giants though, it was a welcome result as they brought home a point, their first in this edition following seven straight losses.The hosts had taken the lead in the 40th minute through VP Suhair while T Adison Singh scored the equaliser for MSC in the 57th minute as the game ended with scores level at the final whistle.With one point from the match, Odisha (6 points) were down to 12th spot on the 14-team roster.
Mohammedan were rooted to the bottom of the table despite opening their account with their first draw of the season. However, with an all-Indian side at his disposal, breaking the losing streak would be a kind of solace for coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo.VP Suhair continued his personal form from the last game against FC Goa to give Odisha a deserving lead five minutes from the half-time whistle. Receiving a defence splitting through by Khiangte Lalrinfela – popularly known as Mafela – from the centre circle, the Kerala striker’s left-footed shot from the top of box at the top net was virtually unstoppable.
And it beat Mohammedan goalkeeper Padam Chettri all ends up.Wadoo’s boys upped the ante after the change of ends and were clearly the better side in the second half with barrages of attacks in the opposition half. Their constant pressure bore fruit three minutes from the hour mark when Adison guided home a Hira Mondal assist from right beating a full stretched home ’keeper Amrinder Singh.Despite enjoying larger share of possession against the visitors, Odisha failed to convert those into goals and with players missing opportunities in the attacking third, the home side had to remain content with only a point against the weakest side in the league.
