Preview: Chennaiyin FC and Odisha FC battle out in a must-win game

Both teams need to secure a victory to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot in the ISL 2021/22.

With their hopes for a playoffs berth hanging by a thread, it will be a virtual do-or-die affair for Chennaiyin FC and FC Odisha FC when they meet in a crunch Indian Super League encounter at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Wednesday.

Odisha are placed seventh in the points table, having 21 in their bag from 16 games. Chennaiyin are a rung below them at eighth place with 19 points from 16 matches. A playoffs spot is an uphill task for both teams with only four games remaining but anything short of a win on Wednesday will make this virtually impossible.

The Stakes

Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC suffered their heaviest defeat to FC Goa which resulted in them parting ways with their head coach Bozidar Bandovic.

Assistant coach Sabir Pasha will be in charge on Wednesday. Chennaiyin are winless in the last four matches, failing to score a single goal in three of their last four outings.

"We have to be sensible at this point of time. It's a challenge and we have to mould it accordingly. That is a challenge for me as well as a coach. We need to get the best out of the players. Once we can do that, we will be a strong side," said Pasha ahead of the game.

"My first task will be to get the team together and get the best out of them," he added.

Odisha FC

For Odisha FC, a win will take them in touching distance with the top four and head coach Kino Garcia said the heavy loss to Mumbai is now behind them and all their focus is on the Chennaiyin game. They were drubbed 1-4 by Mumbai City FC in their last outing

"We have focused on recovery as we play two games in a short period." Asked about Odisha's struggling backline, he added: "It's not just the defence but the whole team. When we concede a goal it's the whole team who is accountable. We need to improve some aspects. We are in the way of improving and we are working hard.

"It's going to be a difficult game for both. Both teams are coming off big losses. Both will go for a win and it will be a good game."

Jonathas has continued his good form, scoring the only goal for Odisha in the last game making it four goals in four matches. He has equalled Manuel Onwu’s record of scoring in 4 straight matches for Odisha. Onwu scored 7 goals in 4 consecutive games for Odisha in the 2019-20 season.

If he scores in the upcoming match, he will break Odisha’s goal scoring record and the goal streaking streak record this season held by Bartholomew Ogbeche. The Nigerian scored in 4 consecutive matches for Hyderabad earlier in the season.

When Jerry Mawihmingthanga takes the pitch against Chennaiyin FC, he will become the first-ever player to reach 50 Hero ISL appearances for Odisha FC. No other player has played in more than 40 games for Odisha. The last time the two teams met, Chennaiyin edged past Odisha 2-1.

Team news

Odisha FC

The club has its full squad available for the game. Hector Rodas might start but it's suspectful if he can continue till the final whistle. There is a fair probability that Liridon Krashniqi will get some late minutes.

Chennaiyin FC

After the humiliating defeat against FC Goa, Chennaiyin have bid adeu to their head coach Bozidar Bandovic. The team’s assistant coach Syed Sabir Pasha will take over in the interim. We might see Vladimir Coman on the bench tomorrow.

Probable line-ups

Odisha FC

Arshdeep Singh (GK); Lalruatthara, Hector Rodas, Victor Mongil (C), Hendry Antonay; Isaac, Paul ; Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Javi Hernandez, Nandhakumar; Jonathas

Chennaiyin FC

Debjit Majumder (GK), Ariel Borysiuk, Slavko Damjanovic, Narayan Das, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Germanpreet Singh, Anirudh Thapa (C), Edwin Syndey Vanspaul, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Mirlan Murzaev, Nerijus Valskis.

Head-to-head

Odisha FC and Chennaiyin have clashed 15 times in Hero Indian Super League. Odisha FC have come out on top 6 times (5 times as Delhi Dynamos) while the Machans have managed a victory thrice. Six games have ended all squares. 

A total 45 number of goals have been exchanged between the two sides, 26 by Odisha and 19 by Chennaiyin FC.

Did you know

• Jeje Lalpekhlua is the highest scorer (4) in these two teams' head-to-head clashes, while Chhangte is the highest assist (2) provider so far.
• Both Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC have lost an equal 7 number of games this season.
• Odisha FC custodian Kamaljit Singh had saved a penalty and assisted a goal during the reverse fixture in December.
• Chennayin FC haven't scored in their last two games and they have failed to do so 7 times this season

Telecast

The match between Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC will be played at the Tilak Maidan, Goa, from 7:30 pm on 16th February. The game will be telecasted live on the Star Sports Network. It will also be live-streamed on Disney+Hotstar and JioTV.

For more football updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter, Instagram and join our community on Telegram.