Kalinga Super Cup 2024 final highlights: East Bengal beats Odisha FC 3-2, wins a title after 12 years

East Bengal makes a comeback for the second time in the match with its captain Cleiton Silva scoring the winner in the second-half of extra-time. And that secures a spot for East Bengal in Asia and its first trophy in 12 years.

East Bengal is looking to stretch the game as Odisha tries to put its foot on the gas for the last push. But East Bengal is marking really well.

Odisha FC tries to find gaps in EB defence and Mauricio almost finds it. But OFC is caught in the off-side trap with Narender too high and the Juggernauts go again.

Odisha tries to attack on the counter but Gill has this gloves glued to the ball. He kicks it out as Cuadrat watches with caution. His boys have let slip once. They should not do it again.

Mawia’s goalkeeper error sees Narender lose the ball to Cleiton, who slots it into the bottom-right corner with a left-footed hit.

Suhair’s floats in a cross from the left but Amey intercepts in time to clear it for an EB corner kick. 

East Bengal gets a free-kick, which Cleiton takes. But the floating cross is cleared away and Odisha is marking the EB players really well at the moment.

Roy Krishna gets the ball outside the box and tries a right-footed hit on target, forcing a save by Gill and Isak rushes in to shoot but the flag is raised.

After an aggessive pep-talk from both coaches, the players are back on the pitch and the match resumes, with OFC getting the ball rolling.

Despite both sides having multiple chances to score, neither could convert as the match remains 2-2 after the end of the first half of extra-time.

Amey gets the ball to Mauricio, who shoots on target and Gill makes a good save to keep the match level at 2-2.

Mahesh and Hijazi combine, with the former floating in a ball for Hijazi, whose header is caught comfortably by Mawia.

East Bengal’s corner kick is cleared easily by Odisha, which is looking to force the match into penalties.

East Bengal has Sayan and Mahesh in the box. While Sayan’s appeal for a penalty goes in vain, Roy Krishna earns a foul off Mahesh to finish any chance of EB’s attack in the box for now.

Sayan marches into the box but fails to get past Amey Ranawade, ending up with a foul against OFC.

Roy Krishna tries to shoot from outside the box, with a left-footed hit, which drifts wide off-target.

Shouvik gets a second yellow of the night and is sent off. And the match gets back to level terms in all aspects - men, goals and penalties. 

East Bengal makes a run into a pocket in the box and Shouvik tries to shoot but his strike comes off the bar.

East Bengal tries to attack against the run of play by Narender intercepts the through ball to get Odisha back in control. East Bengal, eventually, wins the ball back again.

Mahesh looks to pull strings in the attack but a through ball into the box is gobbled up by Mawia to end any chance of a goal for the Red and Gold Brigade through that build-up.

Mauricio and Hijazi get into a duel for the ball and OFC gets a throw-in in the EBFC half. But East Bengal heads it out of danger.

The first half of extra-time begins with Gahlot replacing Narender for Odisha FC. And we are back on the field for the first 15 minutes.

Jahouh steps up for the penalty and scores with a panenka to make it all square at the Kalinga Stadium. The match is back on level terms at the stroke of full time.

Mauricio makes a run into the box and if fouled by Gill and the referee points to the spot. Penalty to Odisha FC.

East Bengal tries another attack on the counter, with Sayan trying a shot past Mawia. But the OFC keeper remains rock solid this time to keep the margin to just one goal at the moment.

Vignesh gets a cross for Mauricio from the left to the right but East Bengal just clears. Jahouh tries to shoot next but is stopped. Odisha throwing everything it can to find an equaliser.

East Bengal is looking to slow the game down and tries to attack from the midfield. Cleiton tries to set up Sayan but OFC clears. 

East Bengal gets back for its defensive duties and Jahouh’s free-kick finds Krishna, whose header goes out for a EB goal kick. Krishna is furious. He appeals for a corner as he things the ball went after a touch off Hijazi.

East Bengal weirdly subs a substitute. Vishnu is replaced by Sayan Banerjee. Perhaps, Cuadrat is looking for some defensive stability to put the game to bed with the clock ticking at 86 minutes now.

East Bengal attacks on the counter with Vishnu again on a one-on-one with Mawia and his shot is saved by Mawia. The OFC goalkeeper has saved at least three clear goals, which could have ended the contest long back.

East Bengal is caught off-guard along the left and a cross sees Hijazi wait a bit too much for thhe ball when Isak rushes in and shoots. But the shot comes off the bar! 

East Bengal is looking a bit too desperate to stop Odisha and Lalchungnunga gets into the book. Meanwhile, East Bengal gets another chance to score. Vishnu gets a long ball from the left, beats Vignesh but shoots into the side-net.

Cy tries to do an overlap with Krishna, but his through ball is overhit as the ball goes out of play for a goal kick. to East Bengal.

Hizaji brings down Mauricio and OFC gets a free-kick on the right side of the box. Jahouh takes the free-kick, which is cleared by Crespo.

In: P. V. Vishnu , Out: Nandhakumar Sekhar

Odisha, a team with fewer men and fewer goals, is looking to shuffle its pack and brings on Vignesh for Jerry to add fresh legs to the defence.

Mauricio beats two markers in the box and shoots on target but Prabhsukhan Gill gets a hand to it to deny a certain equaliser. Odisha is not letting the game go this easily.

Mourtada Fall tries to get the ball first in an aerial duel with Borja and gets an elbow on the Spaniard. The referee reaches into his pocket to give Fall a yellow card, his second of the night, which means, he is off!

Every cross that is sent in by Odisha is now being cleared by East Bengal. It knows it now has the edge and can go on and win a trophy after 12 years.

Odisha gets a corner kick to get back on level terms. East Bengal has the whole team in the box, looking to clear any loose ball.

Crespo steps up for the penalty and sends Mawia on the other side to put East Bengal ahead in the Super Cup final.

Hijazi gets the ball, tricks Cy to get the ball to his other feet and East Bengal tries an attack along the left. Fall misses the ball and Borja goes to the ground appealing for a penalty and the referee points to the spot.

Nandha had gone down after a foul by the referee, which the referee, unfortunately, did not give as East Bengal pushes men forward.

Mahesh makes an instant impact after coming on, sets up Nandha, who beats the defender and then the goalkeeper to slot it in with ease eventually.

Cleiton gets the ball, turns and shoots with his left foot. Fall blocks it but the deflection, which was going towards goal is stopped by Mawia. 

Borja gets the ball into the final third and delivers a cross, which is headed out for a corner by Jerry. Cleiton’s corner kick flies out to the other end, after a tiny deflection. This time Puitea blocks Pardo’s shot.

East Bengal tries to start an attack early on, with Nandha trying a cross from the right, which flies over the net.

Both sides enter the pitch, with East Bengal making two changes at half-time. Mahesh and Lalchungnunga replace Siverio and Mandar, respectively.

The Juggernauts remain ahead at the break, with Diego Mauricio finding the net from a Roy Krishna pass. A goal has eluded East Bengal with Mawia making two crucial saves.

East Bengal looks to build from the back in the last moments of the first half but eventually the referee blows the half-time whistle.

East Bengal has three players parked around Cy, Krishna and Mauricio and the marking sees the cross greeted with a clearance. 

Odisha FC has now started pressing very well, with one player stuck to each of the EB players in the attacking half. It knows it has the lead and that can be enough in the long run.

Saul Crespo beats Jahouh in the midfield and then Delgado in front of the box, but his shot is deflected out for an EB corner.

This was Mauricio’s third goal in this tournament and the 10th this season. Interestingly, he had scored twice in the last final too as OFC won its first silverware, the Super Cup in 2023.

Krishna receives the free-kick from Jahouh and draws defenders towards him to release Mauricio and then passes the ball to him. The Brazilian’s right-footed hit kisses the net causing a delirium in the stadium as the hosts take the lead.

The match getting more ad more physical with Cleiton and Jahouh getting together in the middle of the park with the former conceding a foul.

Mauricio takes the free-kick and hits right into the wall and Cuadrat’s boys do very well in the follow-up to deny any chance on the second ball from the Brazilian.

Hijazi tries to stop Mauricio, who had run past two EB players but his late challenge brings the player down for an OFC free-kick at the edge of the penalty box.

Cleiton takes the free-kick, which is headed on target by Javier Siverio. But Mawia makes another reflex save, pushing it out right in time to keep the score 0-0.

East Bengal gets a free-kick, another set-piece opportunity. Pardo takes the free-kick from a set-piece routine and his rocket of a shot is somehow fisted away by Mawia. 

Plenty of action for both sides in the first half-hour of the match. Nandha for East Bengal and Mauricio for Odisha had the best chances so far in the game. 

Mauricio tries to set up Cy in the box, with a curling pass from the right. Hijazi intercepts but his mistake does not give away any damage.

Puitea looks to have picked up some discomfort and he walks off the field temporarily for medical assistance. The play eventually resumes.

Jahouh’s corner kick is punches away on full-stretch by Gill and then Pardo clears the ball, following a cross from Cy on the follow-up.

Isak gets a cross from the right to the left flank, side-steps Rakip, but his cross to the centre is finally cleared by East Bengal. 

Rakip marches up the pitch this time, runs past Delgado but his cross is blocked for another East Bengal corner. 

Mauricio nutmegs Pardo, cutting in from the right but Rakip clears it out of danger. Cuadrat’s side has been defensively quite compact so far.

Mawia tries to hold on to East Bengal’s long ball but crosses the line in the process to give away a corner kick. Borja takes the corner, which Hijazi tries to meet but Fall marks him well to deny any chance of a goal.

Odisha attacks against the run of play. Roy Krishna sprints from his half to that of the opponent, threads a pass through to Cy, who then crosses for Mauricio. Mauricio’s shot just moves past the net. That was again, an extremely close miss for the Juggernauts!

East Bengal playing one touch passing and marches up the pitch. Mandar gets the ball along the left flank and tries a cross but Odisha thwarts the attempt to force the visitors back.

Roy Krishna makes a run along the right, shifts to his left and then launches a shot from outside the box. The ball whizzes past just wide!

Souvik gets in a duel with Jahouh to win the ball but the latter gets on top while the referee keeps his cards in the pocket.

Borja dribbles past his marker and crosses to his left for Nandha. But OFC makes a clinical interception to deny any chance for the Red and Gold Brigade. 

Ranawade and Krishna combines along the right and tries a cross for Cy, but Gill gets to the ball first to end that development immediately.

OFC gives away a foul in the midfield. Pardo’s takes the free-kick, which initially cleared is shot by Nandha from outside the box. Mawia makes a regulation save.

“Odisha let’s go” chants ring around the stadium with Mawia rolling the ball back into play. The team is playing without Amrinder Singh, its main goalkeeper.

The final begins with a loud cheer from both sides of fans and East Bengal is on the offensive right away, with a throw from the left, which is cleared by OFC.

The players walk out of the tunnel, followed by Mr. Naveen Patnaik, the honourable Chief Minister, who walks out, waved to the fans before stepping on the ground. 

Carles Cuadrat, East Bengal head coach:

We are feeling very good. We have been fighting for results for a long time. It’s very important for us to be in another final. We couldn’t win the first one (Durand Cup), so we’ll try our best to get the result in this one.

Both teams are in a very good dynamic of results. We have been performing consistently. But it’s the same with Odisha, they have a long, long unbeaten streak. So, unfortunately, one of the teams is going to lose and the dynamic is going to break. It will be a very difficult game for us. But we always say we’re going to win. We are showing that we are scoring goals in every game.

Sergio Lobera, Odisha head coach:

We have a big game in front of us. We have the responsibility to keep the trophy here. We are excited about this opportunity and the most important thing is to enjoy this final. It’s a big game for everyone - the players, coaches, staff and supporters.

We have beaten some very good teams like Mohun Bagan SG and Bashundhara Kings in the AFC Cup, and FC Goa and Mumbai City FC in this competition. I’m confident because I trust my players two hundred per cent. They have shown that they are ready to play big games and tomorrow it is one.

Both team buses park in front of the stadium as both teams walk out into their dressing rooms. The match will kick off in just more than half an hour from now.

East Bengal FC will be leaning on its rich legacy and a recent assumption of form to leverage its chances against the defending champion and the home favourite, Odisha FC when the two clash for the Kalinga Super Cup, at the Kalinga Stadium on Sunday evening. 

The final is going to be a feisty affair considering the arsenal the two sides possess. Both the teams seem to be on an even keel having won all four matches (group league and the semifinals) while making their way to the title round. 

In every assessment, the two opponents match each other in almost all the departments of team composition. But when it comes to consistency, Odisha FC steals the march for being the more successful side.