AFC Cup: Odisha FC eye knockout berth against Bashundhara Kings

A draw will be enough for Bashundhara to navigate into the next round.

The Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Odisha FC aims to secure a knockout stages qualification in the 2023-24 AFC Cup. However, they have a huge obstacle standing in their path – Bashundhara Kings. The final game of Group D between the sides will decide the winner of the group and the club that will advance into the next stage of the continental showpiece. 

The crunch fixture is set to take place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha on 11th December, 2023. Fans of both clubs are praying for the success of their respective sides and hoping that the result goes their way. It is difficult to predict which outfit will come out on top as the margins are extremely small.

Both teams boast of quality on paper and must translate that into a brilliant performance on Monday. As the wait for the kickoff gets shorter, here is a look at what to expect from the game:

The Stakes

A place in the knockout stages of the 2023-24 AFC Cup is on the line for the victory from Odisha FC versus Bashundhara Kings. The Bangladeshi outfit sits on top of Group D with 10 points whereas the Indian Super League outfit is second place with nine points. A draw will be enough for the Kings to navigate into the next round while the Kalinga Warriors must secure a win to leapfrog them to finish as winners of Group D.

Team News

There are concerns around the fitness of Ahmed Jahouh as he was subbed early in the second half against Mohun Bagan Super Giant recently. It will be interesting to see if he is match-fit to start against Bashundhara Kings.

Head to Head

Total Matches Played – 1

Odisha FC wins – 0

Bashundhara Kings wins – 1

Draws – 0

Probable Lineups

Odisha FC (4-2-3-1)

Amrinder Singh (GK), Amey Ranawade, Narender Gahlot, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Ahmed Jahouh, Lalthanga Khawlhring, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Cy Goddard, Roy Krishna, Diego Mauricio.

Bashundhara Kings (4-2-3-1)

Mehedi Srabon (GK), Bishwanath Ghosh, Tariq Kazi, Boburbek Yuldashov, Saad Uddin, Asror Gafurov, Jean Brossou, Rakib Hossain, Miguel Figueira, Robinho, Dorielton

Player to Watch

Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC)

Diego Mauricio has three goals in the 2023-24 AFC Cup group stages for Odisha FC. In addition, he has scored three goals in the Indian Super League as well. He will be a dangerous figure in the attack who can punish any defence if given the opportunity. Bashundhara Kings defenders, especially someone like Boburbek Yuldashov will hope to stay close to Mauricio and deny him space to operate. The Brazilian striker will be a constant threat inside the box and will look to make runs beyond the defensive line to latch on to through balls.

Dorielton (Bashundhara Kings)

Dorielton is a difficult player to contain due to his physicality. He loves to hold the ball up as a target man and runs into the channels. He also excels in aerial situations and thus becomes a tricky player to contain. The 33-year-old can still outpace defenders and score from tight angles with his shooting capabilities. Carlos Delgado in Odisha FC’s defence must keep an eye on Dorielton and prevent him from impacting the game.

Did You Know?

• Bashundhara Kings are undefeated against Indian Super League sides in Group D of the 2023-24 AFC Cup.
• Odisha FC has scored the most goals in Group D (16).
• Bashundhara Kings have conceded the least goals in Group D (9).

Telecast

The live broadcast of Odisha FC vs Bashundhara Kings will be available on Sports18 Network (Sports18 1 channel) and the Jio Cinema app. The kick-off is at 7:30 PM.

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