ISL 2023-24: Odisha FC vs Chennaiyin FC Live Updates

5:00 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the Odisha FC vs Chennaiyin FC match in the Indian Super League (ISL 2023-24). The kick-off is just 30 minutes away! I am your host Aishwarya Chakraborty and will keep you company through what promises a fascinating evening of football. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

ISL 2023-24: Odisha FC vs Chennaiyin FC - Build-up

Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC are set to face each other at Kalinga Stadium Bhubaneswar on September 23 for their first match in this year’s Indian Super League.

Football enthusiasts in Odisha have already witnessed their team’s performance at the same venue a few days ago when they competed against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the AFC Cup. However, the upcoming ISL matches promise to bring even more excitement to the stadium.

Despite the notable performance of the juggernauts in the previous ISL season and their qualification for the AFC Cup, they faced a sobering defeat at the hands of the dominant Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their inaugural AFC encounter with 0-4 goals.

Chennaiyin FC, two time winner of the Indian Super League, had a disappointing season last year. In fact, they finished in the eighth spot for two consecutive seasons. They registered a convincing 4-0 victory against Kalighat MS in a friendly match in July, followed by two consecutive draws against Mohammedan in July and earlier this month.

Odisha FC is poised to take to the field under the guidance of their newly-appointed coach, Sergio Lobera. Lobera, an accomplished coach, brings a wealth of experience gleaned from his tenure in India. Over the course of four seasons, he steered FC Goa to remarkable success in three of them.

The appointment of Lobera in 2017 had an immediate and profound effect on the team, propelling them to the playoffs of the Indian Super League for three successive seasons. Furthermore, under his adept leadership, FC Goa achieved a triumphant victory in the 2019 edition of the Hero Super Cup.

After their lackluster performance in recent times, the Marina Machans have once again appointed their previous coach, Owen Coyle.

In his previous tenure in 2019, Coyle had a significant impact on the team, leading them to a commendable second place finish in the competition. With his return, the team is hopeful of replicating their previous success and aims to once again emerge as strong contenders under his expert guidance.