Jahouh's domination and other talking points from Odisha FC's win over Mohun Bagan

The match was not short of drama as players from both Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan were sent off.

Odisha FC packed the first punch in their two-legged ISL semi-final contest against Mohun Bagan with a 2-1 win in the first leg at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha on Tuesday. Goals from Carlos Delgado and Roy Krishna were enough to secure the win after the Mariners went into an early lead thanks to Manvir Singh.

The game was not short of fiery tackles, memorable duels and controversial decisions, including two red cards for both teams. There were plenty of talking points to take away from the first leg into the second on 28 April 2024. 

Here is a look at the five major talking points from Odisha FC’s win over ISL Shield winners Mohun Bagan from the first leg of their semi-final:

5. Unlucky Carlos Delgado

At the stroke of the 58th minute of the game, Odisha FC’s Carlos Delgado was shown a yellow card for a handball. He was visibly distraught on receiving the caution because it meant he would miss the second leg of the semi-final. To make matters worse, he got a second yellow for another handball in the 73rd minute, reducing OFC to 10 men on the pitch. The centre-back’s key role in Odisha’s run this season cannot be understated. Without him in the second leg, the Juggernauts have a disadvantage going into the reverse fixture of the semis.

4. Ahmed Jahouh’s domination

Ahmed Jahouh’s impact is well-known in Odisha FC reaching the last four and yet Mohun Bagan did not show an intent to limit him. The midfielder was instrumental in creating scoring chances and played a key role in the first goal with his corner and second goal with a brilliant penetrative pass. The Mariners must find a way to contain Jahouh in the reverse leg or concede more chances, thanks to his vision and accuracy along with his passing.

3. Armando Sadiku’s red card

Things went from bad to worse for Mohun Bagan when Armando Sadiku was shown a second yellow card of the game in the 67th minute. The dismissal meant that the Mariners had to play the final 20-odd minutes with a player less. Furthermore, the red card keeps Sadiku out of the second leg, giving selection headaches to Antonio Habas. The striker’s inability to contain his emotions caused the Mariners a heap of problems.

2. Vishal Kaith’s performance

Vishal Kaith had a decent league stage of the 2023-24 Indian Super League but his performance in the first leg of the semi-final left a bitter taste in the mouth of the fans. He made a complete mess of a corner situation, failing to collect the ball that gave Carlos Delgado an empty net to guide the ball in for the equaliser. His sudden fall of form was a major talking point from the contest. He would need to roll his socks up and tighten his gloves for the contest at the Salt Lake Stadium on 28 April. 

1. Odisha FC running out of steam

Odisha FC’s performance across the two halves of the first leg was contrasting. Following an energetic first-half display, the Juggernauts seemed deflated and let the Mariners dominate the ball by sitting deep in their own half. While Mohun Bagan could not find the goals they were looking for, Lobera ought to be concerned about his team’s inconsistent energy levels. A drop in the effort may lead to dire consequences in the second leg.

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