Scoring five against Mohun Bagan on their home ground is significant feat: Sergio Lobera

Lobera stated that they have fate in their own hands in the last group stage tie.

Odisha FC achieved a remarkable victory in the AFC Cup by defeating Mohun Bagan Super Giant with a resounding 5-2 scoreline at theSalt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Mohun Bagan gained an early advantage in the game when Hugo Boumous scored a goal in the 17th minute. The Juggernauts responded with Roy Krishna finding the back of the net in the 29th minute, followed by a goal from Diego Mauricio in the 32nd minute. Cy Goddard then extended OFC’s lead with another goal in the 41st minute, resulting in a two-goal advantage for them at the end of the first half.

In the latter part of the match, MBSG displayed an offensive style of play, resulting in Kiyan Nassiri’s exceptional goal in the 63rd minute, thus reducing the deficit to a single goal. However, Aniket Jadhav and Isak Vanlalruatfela sealed the victory for the visitors with two consecutive goals during the additional time in the second half.

The post match press conference was attended by Odisha FC’s head coach Sergio Lobera and their best player on the field today, Roy Krishna. 

Crucial win for Odisha FC

Odisha FC gained three crucial points from the win and it will now depend on their performance in their next match against Basundhara Kings that will decide their further fate in the Championship. 

When asked about the performance of the team in the match, coach Sergio Lobera said, “I am exceedingly pleased and profoundly proud of my players for their remarkable performance today in reclaiming the game. Our opponents were undeniably a formidable team, arguably the strongest in India at the moment. Achieving five goals against Mohun Bagan on their home ground is a significant feat.”

“Furthermore, we are exhilarated by the fact that we not only represent our club but also our nation in this esteemed competition. Our fate lies in our own hands in the upcoming match, where we have the opportunity to secure the top position in the standings and advance to the next stage”, he added.

A comeback in the game

Roy Krishna’s goal helped Odisha FC to make a comeback in the game, from where they never looked back. Roy said, “I believe our team performed admirably. However, we did not have a strong start. Nonetheless, we demonstrated great resilience by making a comeback against one of the favorites in our group. We were well aware of the capabilities of the Mohun Bagan team, but our focus remained on our own abilities.”

“I firmly believe that if we play to our strengths, we have the potential to defeat any team on any given day. And today, we executed our game plan successfully, so the credit goes to our entire team for their efforts. We are delighted with this victory”, he stated further. 

Next challenge 

The next big challenge for Odisha FC will be to defeat Bashundhara Kings at the Kalinga Stadium. To this the coach replied, “We will approach the significant challenge with great confidence and enthusiasm. As a coach, when presented with the opportunity to work with such exceptional players, I am always assured. They not only display exceptional football skills but also showcase remarkable character, a strong sense of teamwork and an unwavering work ethic.”

“I believe that these attributes are crucial for achieving success and winning prestigious trophies. While winning a single game may be possible, I firmly believe that my players possess a multitude of qualities that make them deserving of progressing further in this competition”, he added. 

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