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Chennaiyin FC put up a splendid show but shared spoils after playing out an exciting 2-2 draw against Odisha FC in the Indian Super League 2022-23 contest at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.
Chennaiyin FC skipper Anirudh Thapa struck his first goal of the season in the 25th minute before Abdenasser El Khayati (57th minute) netted the second for the home side in the second half. Diego Mauricio (24th) and Isak Vanlalruatfela (47th) scored for Odisha FC.
With the scores locked at 2-2, Chennaiyin FC could have produced the winner 20 minutes before the final whistle when El Khayati was brought down by Lalruatthara in the box. But to everyone’s surprise no penalty was given to them.
Thapa & Co. kept pressing hard in the final quarter to take home full points. El Khayati almost had it for them in the 77th minute when he curled a Kwame Karikari pass but unfortunately hit the right post.
Earlier, Chennaiyin FC were off to a promising start and came very close to scoring the opening goal in the 19th minute when Vincy Barretto headed Thapa’s cross from inside the box but it was saved by Amrinder Singh with a dive to his left.
It was Odisha FC, who managed to break the deadlock in the second quarter when Mauricio converted off a Vanlalruatfela pass. But the celebrations barely lasted for the visitors as Thapa struck the equaliser the very next minute.
Fans erupted in joy at the Marina Arena when Thapa elegantly headed home Aakash Sangwan cross as the animated first half saw Chennaiyin FC holding a slight edge over the opponent with 54 percentage of possession.
Josep Gombau’s men took just three minutes after the resumption to take the lead when Vanlalruatfela netted their second goal.
In-form El Khayati came to Chennaiyin FC’s rescue and made it 2-2 with a majestic touch towards the bottom corner of the post. It was Barretto, who recovered the ball on the left wing and slipped it to El Khayati, who made no mistake inside the box to smash his eighth goal of the season.
Chennaiyin FC will next face Kerala Blasters FC in an away match next Tuesday while Odisha take on FC Goa at home on Monday.
