Ratings: Valskis breaks goal-drought as Chennaiyin FC hold Odisha

The draw leaves further dents their flailing playoffs hopes.

Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC saw their chances of making it to the playoffs take a big hit after they settled for a point each from their game on Wednesday. Both scored twice each and cancelled each other at the Tilak Maidan in an Indian Super League fixture.

Rahim Ali and Nerijus Valskis scored for Chennaiyin FC, while Odisha replied through goals from Javi Hernandez and Jonathas Jesus. Here's how the players of both teams performed on the night.

Odisha FC (by Shivam Tiwari)

Arshdeep Singh - 5.5

Arshdeep faced three shots on his goal. Two of those were from close range and at angles impossible for the goalkeeper to defend. His collection was subpar as he almost gave the opponents their third goal in the 77th minute.

Hendry Antonay - 6.0

Hendry Antonay could have done the rescue act after his centre-back Hector Rodas made the clearance. However, the effort froze as the right-back failed to contain the cross that gave Chennaiyin their equaliser.

Hector Rodas - 6.5

Rodas' clearance of the cross for the second goal was a weak effort. The Spaniard appeared to have lost his balance while making the clearance. Nevertheless, he had a good game with nine clearances to his name.

Gaurav Bora - 7.0

Bora continues to impress everyone with his on the ball abilities. While he did suffer a slip-up in the 77th minute as he failed to clear his goalkeeper's mishandling of the ball, Bora made up for it with his excellent showing throughout the rest of the game. He finished the game with 92% passing accuracy and six clearances.

Sahil Panwar - 6.0

Odisha's left-back could have done better with more defensive output from Sahil Panwar in the first few minutes of the game. Chennaiyin FC scored their first goal after Odisha's players mishandled the ball in the left half of the box, and Sahil was nowhere near the action.

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Isaac Vanmalsawma - 7.5

Isaac played in the pivot with Thoiba. The former Chennaiyin FC midfielder stole the ball in the Chennaiyin box for the second goal. Isaac created three chances and completed all his interception attempts successfully.

Thoiba Singh Moirangthem - 6.0

Thoiba Singh Moirangthem fouled a Chennaiyin player to concede the free-kick from which Valskis and Rahim Ali combined to give the Marina Machans the lead. He was, otherwise, crucial with his distribution with a passing accuracy of 75% in the game.

Redeem Tlang - 6.5

Tlang was largely anonymous for most of the game. He was the first to be substituted out after completing 15 passes in 56 minutes.

Javi Hernandez - 8.5

Javier scored Odisha's equaliser after combining well with Jonathas. He was at his creative best after finally moving back to the number ten position. Javi created three chances and had three shots in the game.

Aridai Cabrera - 7.5

Aridai assisted Jonathas' goal that put Odisha FC ahead. He should have finished with one more assist to his name. However, Jonathas failed to find the net after being put through on goal. He finished the game with four shots.

Jonathas de Jesus - 9.0

Jonathas was clearly the best player on the pitch. He assisted Javi Hernandez in the first half and then scored one of his own in the second half. He also created four chances.

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Substitutes

Jerry Mawihmingthanga - 6.5

Jerry had a sharp cameo and provided what Odisha missed on the right flank in the first half. He created a chance and had two shots in his short stay on the pitch.

Paul Ramfangzauva - NA

Although he was on the pitch for a little over 18 minutes, Paul had just three touches, and zero passes attempted in the game.

Chennaiyin FC (by Ujyant Ramesh)

Debjit Majumder - 7.5

Was brilliant in goal tonight however his efforts went in vain due to poor performances from his side's defensive line. Made a diving save to stop Jonathas Jesus' heading attempt during the first half's stoppage time. Replicated this in the second half as well but conceded due to poor clearances or simply overall efforts from the backline.

Edwin Vanspaul - 5.5

Alongside Deepak Devrani, the duo was a sort of liability in Chennaiyin's defence making Odisha's right flank the most exploitable zone — which Aridai Cabrera, Javi Hernandez and Jonathas rightly exploited in their build-up for all offensive threats on the night.

Deepak Devrani - 5.0

The 29-year-old felt like Chennaiyin FC's weakest link in defence. Throughout the game, in his 46 touches, he failed to make a single tackle and won just one duel late in the game.

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Slavko Damjanović - 7.0

Most importantly, he made a vital block off Redeem Tlang's shot from the right in the 38th minute and another off Jonathas just before half time. Apart from this, Damjanovic had five blocks and five recoveries besides multiple interceptions and clearances throughout the game.

Narayan Das - 7.0

Assisted Rahim Ali's opening goal early in the game after a scramble in the box caused by Nerijus Valskis' free-kick. Apart from that, he was active both upfront as well as at the back making multiple recoveries and delivering long balls upfront.

Ninthoi Meetei - 6.5

Was extremely active on the right flank. Made multiple runs towards the corner flag and into the box — trying his luck with crosses and general passes towards his attacking options but in vain.

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Ariel Borysiuk - 6.0

Tried his luck with a brilliant long-range strike in the 42nd minute. He however, overshot it above the crossbar only by inches. Apart from that had two more shots that were off target. 

Anirudh Thapa - 6.5 

Anirudh has 58 touches and made nine recoveries in the game. Apart from this, the Chennaiyin FC skipper made a vital block in the 91st minute to save Paul Ramfangzauva's shot from outside the box — which could've been the winner for Odisha.

Vladmir Koman - 6.5 

Had one attempt from outside the box in the first half from Thapa's ball. However, it marginally missed to the right. Totally had three shots of which two were off-target. Nonetheless, he was good with his passing as he completed the most passes in the game (46) with an accuracy of 81%.

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Rahim Ali - 8.5

Scored Chennaiyin FC's opener in the second minute by smashing the ball at the far post off Valskis' uncleared free-kick and also assisted Valskis' headed equalizer in the second half. He also won the most number of duels in the game (11) and was therefore the Marina Machans' best player tonight.

Neirjus Valskis - 7.5

Despite a dull second half, he finally ended his 11-game goal drought by scoring a sublime header in the 68th minute off Rahim Ali's cross from the left. Also had a chance to score in the 76th minute after a butterfingers moment by Arshdeep. However, it ended up as an extremely poor attempt.

Substitutes

Mirlan Murzaev - N/A 

Came on for Vladmir Koman as a late substitution in the 87th minute.

Reagan Singh - N/A

Yet another late substitution, this time for Edwin Vanspaul in the 91st minute.

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