AFC Cup: Odisha FC defeated Maziya of Maldives 3-2 after being two goals down

The win kept Odisha’s hopes of advancing to the Inter-Zone semi-finals of the AFC Cup (the continent’s second club competition) alive, while the defeat leaves Maziya in trouble.

Male: Indian Super League side Odisha FC came back from a two-goal deficit to beat Maziya Sports & Recreation of Maldives 3-2 in an away match in Group D of the AFC Cup on Tuesday.

The win kept Odisha’s hopes of advancing to the Inter-Zone semi-finals of the AFC Cup (the continent’s second club competition) alive, while the defeat leaves Maziya in trouble.

Maziya took the lead in the second minute, after a fine team move that saw Aisam dribble his way into the Odisha box before departing for Naiz Hassan, who scored with a simple finish.

Odisha, who defeated Maziya 6-1 at home, came close to scoring in the seventh minute when Lalthhanga Khawlhring burst into the area before setting up Cy Goddard, who fired his shot wide.

Odisha’s Roy Krishna then saw his effort blocked 12 minutes into the match.

However, the Indian side suffered another shock in the 25th minute when they were awarded a penalty following Mourtada Fall’s tackle on Vojislav Balabanovic, who coolly converted from the spot.

Maziya dominated the rest of the half and came close to scoring again in the 42nd minute when Balabanovic set up Hamza Mohamed, whose shot forced a save from Odisha keeper Amrinder Singh.

Odisha came back fighting in the second half. They reduced the margin in the 65th minute after a corner, with Mourtada Fall nodding home Ahmed Jahouh’s cross.

The goal further spurred Odisha on as they leveled the tie in the 72nd minute, with Jahouh sending a lovely cross for Diego Maurício to head home from the six-yard box.

Odisha completed the comeback in the 85th minute with Krishna scoring the winning goal.

Odisha will face another Indian side, Mohun Bagan, in Kolkata on November 27, while Maziya will meet Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings in Dhaka on the same day.