VASCO, Feb 6: A comeback that should revitalise the dropping shoulders, SC East Bengal would look to continue their fight and bag a win when they take on Odisha FC in their Indian Super League match here on Monday.
The red and golds conceded two early goals against Chennaiyin FC in their last engagement, but showed grit to come back for a draw.
The 18-year old Lalrinliana Hnamte scored the equaliser after a superb free-kick from Darren Sidoel had brought them back in the game.
The result helped them move to 10th spot in the table with 10 points from 15 games.
More importantly, it was a gritty performance especially in the second half where the team showed spirit of the highest order, something that was missing in the previous games.
“In the dugout at half-time in the Chennaiyan FC match, I asked the players to be braver. I asked them to play freely and they delivered,” said head coach Mario Rivera who has one win and a draw apart from the two losses in his four matches in charge.
Dutch midfielder Sidoel has looked good for East Bengal, scoring three goals in nine matches this season, including two goals in his last two appearances.
Besides, the defensive midfielder played as part of a back three in the last game and controlled the defence for the Kolkata side underlining his versatility across the pitch.
Rivera dropped a back three with two wing-backs after leaking two goals in the first half and it remains to be seen whether the Spaniard goes with the same strategy in the Odisha game as well.
For Odisha, they have not won a game in the last three matches and coach Kino Garcia will hope they get back to winning ways to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
“There are still a lot of points to play for and we certainly have our chances,” Garcia said ahead of the clash
The last two fixtures between these two teams are the two highest-scoring fixtures in ISL history.
Odisha’s 6-5 win over SC East Bengal in the closing stages of 2020-21 is the highest-scoring match in the tournament history.
The 10-goal game in the reverse fixture earlier this season where Odisha won 6-4 is the second-highest scoring match in ISL. (PTI)
