Kerala Blasters vs Odisha FC score, ISL 2024-25: KBFC 0-1 OFC; Jerry M’s goal keeps Juggernauts ahead at HT

 In an exhilarating Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 encounter at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters FC played to a 2-2 draw, with both teams showcasing remarkable resilience and attacking prowess.

Kerala Blasters and Odisha FC match in the Indian Super League 2024-25 on Monday. This is Rajdeep Saha bringing all the drama from the country’s top-tier to you.

First Half: A Flurry of Goals

👉The match commenced with high intensity, as both sides sought to assert dominance early on. Kerala Blasters broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when Jesus Jimenez set up Noah Sadaoui inside the box. Sadaoui expertly curled the ball past Odisha's goalkeeper, Amrinder Singh, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. 

👉Just three minutes later, the Blasters doubled their advantage. Sadaoui, turning provider, delivered a precise pass to Jimenez, who unleashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net, making it 2-0 in favor of Kerala. 

👉Despite the setback, Odisha FC responded with determination. In the 29th minute, Ahmed Jahouh's well-placed cross into the six-yard area led to a defensive mishap, resulting in an own goal by Kerala's Alexandre Coeff, reducing the deficit to 2-1. 

👉Buoyed by the goal, Odisha continued to press forward. In the 36th minute, a clever interplay between Diego Mauricio and Jerry Mawihmingthanga culminated in Mauricio slotting the ball past Kerala's goalkeeper, Sachin Suresh, leveling the score at 2-2. This assist marked Jerry's 21st in the ISL, highlighting his creative influence. 

Second Half: Stalemate Despite Opportunities

👉The second half maintained the frenetic pace, with both teams creating several scoring opportunities. Odisha's Roy Krishna, introduced as a substitute, nearly made an immediate impact in the 56th minute. His cross from the right found Isak Vanlalruatfela, whose attempt narrowly missed the target. 

👉Kerala Blasters had a golden chance to regain the lead in the 88th minute. A miscommunication between Odisha's Thoiba Singh and goalkeeper Amrinder Singh allowed Adrian Luna to intercept a pass. However, Amrinder's quick recovery ensured Luna's deflection went out for a goal-kick, keeping the scores level. 

Key Performers

👉Noah Sadaoui was instrumental for Kerala Blasters, contributing a goal and an assist. His performance elevated him to the top of the goal contributions chart in the ISL since the 2022-23 season, surpassing Dimitri Petratos. Additionally, Sadaoui created six chances during the match, underscoring his offensive threat. 

👉For Odisha FC, Diego Mauricio's equalizing goal and Jerry Mawihmingthanga's assist were pivotal in securing the draw. Their synergy in attack posed consistent challenges to the Kerala

defense. Implications and Upcoming Fixtures

👉The draw resulted in Kerala Blasters climbing to fourth place in the ISL standings, while Odisha FC moved up to ninth. Both teams will look to build on this performance in their forthcoming matches. Odisha FC is set to host East Bengal on October 22, while Kerala Blasters will travel to Kolkata to face Mohammedan SC on October 20. 

👉This encounter exemplified the competitive spirit of the ISL, with both teams exhibiting attacking flair and resilience. Fans will undoubtedly anticipate more such thrilling contests as the season progresses.