Odisha FC vs Kerala Blasters HIGHLIGHTS ISL: Pedro Martin late goal gives OFC win vs KBFC

And the referee calls time. Odisha FC has nicked it in the end. Pedro Martin is the hero of the day for the Juggernauts with an exquisite piece of skill to control the ball and then followed it up with an authoritative finish to seal the win for his side.

Gill succumbs to pressure and handles the ball outside the box. And that costs Blasters precious seconds.

Five more minutes for Kerala Blasters to find an equaliser.

With just minutes left on the clock, it seems like Odisha will take the three points home.

A speculative clearance from Amrinder and Pedro Martin brings it down from the sky, takes a touch and thumps it in. Odisha takes the lead!!!

Another long throw from Shubham. But this time Blasters deals with it. A long ball from Gill almost creates an error in Odisha defence. But Amrinder is watchful.

A clash of heads and KBFC gets a drop ball in its favour. But it can’t built a solid attack from the chance.

Odisha looks like the more likely side to score, particularly in the counter attacks.

Jerry is almost through on goal, before he crumbled, on his own. That would have been interesting if he hadn’t lost his footing.

Odisha FC has been using long throws to put the Blasters defence under pressure. In fact, the first goal came after a long throw in.

Both managers have changed their personnels and their formations in hopes of gaining the extra two points and it looks like a goal is brewing at the Kalinga stadium.

Diamantakos is picked out by Luna in the box. But his downward header is directed straight at Amrinder. Odisha tries to hit back with a cross from right. Martin’s shot pushed away by Gill.

Pedro Martin makes an appearance off the bench.

Former Odisha player Victor Mongil is in for Kaliyuzhnyi. Nihal comes in for Homripam.

KBFC targetting the right hand side of Odisha defence. Puitea, Luna and Jessel linking up well.

Sahal makes way for Rahul KP. Early change made by Ivan.

A lot more fluidity in KBFC’s passing. Kaliyuzhnyi forces Amrinder to give away a corner. Luna almost scores directly from the corner. He swings it in and it clips the upright.

Kaliyuzhnyi is pulled on and KBFC has a freekick from a good range. But Luna’s delivery is shielded away.

Odisha equalises through Jerry. He pounced on a rebound to nick it in. Well deserved one for OFC.

Leskovic with a cynical foul to cut short an Odisha attack. He and Hormipam have been solid out in the middle today, so far.

Odisha is desperate to get a foothold in the game. More passes forward and more risks taken from Gambou’s side.

Gills first blocks a shot from an acute angle. But the rebound almost bounced over him. But the young keeper flung himself back to claw it back in. CRUCIAL SAVE!!

A not-so-flamboyant Kerala Blasters looks to hold on to the lead as the second half begins.

No further drama as KBFC go into half-time with a 1-0 lead.

Vukumanovic would love to get his side back in with this lead intact. Two minutes added on.

Kaliyuzhnyi reciprocates for a few rough fouls he received. He has been a little too hot to handle for Odisha.

Odisha is looking up to Mauricio to help it back into the game. Meanwhile, KBFC fans are still in a delirious mood.

Almost an immediate response from Odisha. A header from a corner goes inches wide. Positive from OFC.

KBFC gets a corner and they play it short. Luna gets the ball back and slings a delicious cross into the box. Khabra comes flying in to head it in from short range. What a well worked set piece goal.

Gill almost plays himself into trouble. He couldn’t control the back pass correctly and almost succumbed to the pressure. Luckily for Blasters, he clears it away for a throw in.

Sahal was waiting in the middle for a tap in. But Luna’s cross was weak from the left. That would have been a solid chance.

Odisha’s pressure has stifled KBFC to a great extent. The Blasters are also conceding some unnecessary fouls too.

Gill had to stretch himself there. A long ranger from Thoiba and Gill diverts it behind. Best shot of the game so far.

Some careless defending in the right flank by Kerala Blasters there. But thankfully for them, Odisha doesn’t capitalise. Hormipam flings himself to block a cross and concedes a corner.

Though it has been the better side, KBFC hasn’t settled in as well as it has shown it is capable of.

Odisha wins a freekick from an attacking position. Chance to put the ball into dangerous territory. KBFC defence clears with ease.

Odisha’s pressure up front is forcing errors out of the yellow army. Diamantakos wins a corner for Blasters. But the quickly taken corner doesn’t trouble the Odisha defence much.

Odisha has a sustained spell of possession. The Juggernauts wins its first corner of the game too.

Puitea plays the corner shot and then Luna swings a cross in. He tries to set up Kaliuzhnyi. But his shot was tame and Amrinder holds on.

Odisha penetrates KBFC box. Mauricio squares one and Gill can only palm it on to the line. Odisha pounces on the rebound, but the referee offers Gill protection. GOAL DISALLOWED.

Odisha’s defensive position holds true, making it difficult for Kerala Blasters to find gaps. The away fans are making themselves heard here.

Blasters direct its attack down the left. Early crosses flying in from the left flank. Nice intensity from the southern side in the opening minutes.

Odisha with the kick off and here we go. Blasters in its white away kit, while Odisha in all black.

The National Anthem is done and the players pose for the team photos. Captains of both sides exchange the line-ups and it is all set for kick-off.

Prabhsukhan Gill (gk), Jessel Carneiro, Harmanjot Khabra, Marko Leskovic, Hormipam Ruivah, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Adrian Luna, Jeakson Thounaojam, Ivan Kalyuzhnyi, Dimitrios Diamantakos, Sahal Abdul Samad

Amrinder Singh (GK), Shubham Sarangi, Sahil Panwar, Carlos Delgado, Thoiba Singh, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Osama Malik, Saul Crespo, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Nandhakumar Sekar, Diego Mauricio

Striker Diego Mauricio has scored five goals in three games against Kerala Blasters in his ISL career so far.

Kerala Blasters’s Ivan Kaliuzhnyi leads the golden boot race with three goals, alongside ATKMB’s Dimitri Petratos.

GAMES PLAYED - 6

KERALA BLASTERS WINS - 2

ODISHA FC WINS - 1

DRAWS - 3

“Sunday’s match we will experience the away atmosphere after two years. It will be a new experience for many of our players. We expect Odisha FC to be strong and aggressive,” said Ivan Vukomanovic.

“As a team, we always want to be prepared and aggressive ourselves. We want to show our quality because the boys want to compete and show that we are capable of winning games,” he added.

“We are happy to be back home, playing at the Kalinga Stadium again. We have good memories here and all the players are excited to perform well tomorrow,” said head coach Josep Gombau.

“We hope fans come in numbers to see the game and I hope we start with a win at home,” he added.

After a two-year absence, the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) makes its way back to Bhubaneswar with Odisha FC hosting Kerala Blasters FC on Sunday at the Kalinga Stadium.

Due to their recent losses, both teams will enter this contest be desperate for a win.

The most recent match between Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters resulted in a dramatic 4-4 draw.

The hosts are hungry to improve on their outstanding home record and defeat the Blasters. However, the Juggernauts, who have only prevailed in one of their previous six encounters with them, will find it anything but easy.