With their chances of qualifying for the Indian Super League (ISL) playoffs not limited to their show, Odisha FC will need to do what they must do now – win their remaining two league games to keep their hopes alive.
So, their Friday’s game against a beleaguered Mohammedan SC in Bhubaneswar is like a virtual semifinal for the home side. Losing points at Kalinga Stadium will be a nail in the coffin of the Juggernauts‘ playoff dreams.
The Kalinga Warriors will also need to wait for favourable results in matches involving the other contenders for the last two of the top six spots. Sitting in seventh place on the league table with 29 points from 22 games, six points from the last two will take Odisha to 35 points. But NorthEast United FC (32 points from 22 games) and Mumbai City (32 points from 21 games) are surely better placed to hold onto their fifth and sixth spots, respectively.
To make things worse, OFC will miss key players Mourtada Fall, Ahmed Jahouh and Hugo Boumous to suspensions against the Kolkata side, who have nothing more to lose at rock-bottom. MSC have 11 points from 21 games and have lost last five games on the trot.
However, MSC will take heart from the fact that the only two wins in their kitty this season have come on the road, against Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC. On Friday, they will surely try to salvage some pride at the Kalinga.
Despite the immense pressure, an optimistic OFC coach Sergio Lobera urged his wards to remain focused on the present. “We need to focus on ourselves and win the next two games. In football, anything can happen,” said the Spaniard ahead of the clash on Thursday.
Echoing his coach’s view, Odisha forward Rahim Ali, also present at the pre-match media interaction, said, “The energy and attitude in the last match was good. We’ll keep doing the same and hope to get the result. We’ll give our all in the final home game (in the league stage). We need your (the home fans) support to secure the three points.”
Both teams are coming into the game on the back of losses. While a struggling MSC endured a 0-2 defeat to Jamshedpur FC in their previous match, Odisha suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to Shield Winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the dying minutes in Kolkata.
Discussing the absence of pivotal players in this game, Lobera stated, “We are going to miss some players, but we have a squad now. I believe in my players and we’ll focus on those available. It’s not helpful, but we need to find solutions. We played with ten players in three of our last four games, and as a coach, I have to make sure the team is ready to compete.”
MSC assistant coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo said ahead of the game, “We have been doing good preparation for the last few days to play against Odisha FC. Our performance off late hasn’t been great, but we always try to give our best for the club. It’s a game we want to win.”
The first leg had ended in a goalless draw. On Friday, OFC will be looking forward to convert their home advantage into a win to give the home fans some moments to celebrate before travelling to Jamshedpur to finish their league engagements next.