Odisha 1-2 Bengaluru - Cleiton Silva's winner keeps unbeaten run intact

Odisha 1-2 Bengaluru

Bengaluru have climbed to the third spot with a good win against Odisha. It also means they have not lost a single game so far this season. Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring with his 50th goal contribution in the ISL - a header into the net from a terrific cross into the box from Khabra. Taylor equalised after the restart with a goal from a free-kick into the box. But the Blues weren't done. Substitute Deshorn Brown found Silva inside the box who slotted past Arshdeep to secure the three points. 

A late goal looks unlikely as Odisha have been unable to find a way past the strong Bengaluru defence. Marcelinho has not had the desired impact off the bench. 

Odisha are passing the ball around a lot more but none of them are of any danger to Bengaluru who are happy to defend their lead for the final few minutes of this match. 

Khabra cuts in from the left flank and is allowed to dribble towards the edge of the box unopposed. His final effort rolls wide of goal. Can Odisha's subs Marcelinho and Nandhakumar get them a late equaliser? 

Odisha 1-2 Bengaluru

Udanta flicks a long ball to the right flank into the path of Brown who is inside the box. The substitute lays the ball off for an unmarked Silva who smashes home Bengaluru's second! 

In the first half, Chhetri made it 50 goal contributions in the ISL. Marcelinho is on 40 and has taken the field for Odisha. He has 15+ minutes to make an impact and get Odisha their first win of the season. 

11 - At 170 cms, @chetrisunil11 is one of the shortest strikers in the @IndSuperLeague. Since @bengalurufc's debut in the #ISL in 2017-18, the Indian captain has scored 11 headed goals, the most by any player with the head in the ISL. Prolific. #OFCBFC #LetsFootball #HeroISL pic.twitter.com/aGWFskVdof

— OptaJeev (@OptaJeev) December 17, 2020

Steven Taylor makes it 1-1!

Jerry delivers a terrific free-kick from the left towards the far post where Taylor beats his marker to slide in and push the ball into the net! 

Udanta cuts inside from the right flank and squares the ball to Paartalu who unleashes a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Arshdeep makes an excellent save to deny the midfielder. 

There have been a couple of good chances for Odisha since the restart but the Blues defence will have felt largely unthreatened. Baxter gave Marcelinho just five minutes to make an impact in their last game - how much will the Brazilian get tonight? 

Shubham beats his marker on the right flank and crosses the ball low into the centre. Bora collects and sees his first attempt blocked, He gets the ball again and forces Gurpreet into a good save! 

Cleiton Silva shows off his skill to beat Shubham Sarangi down the left flank and cross into the box. Taylor saves the day for Odisha with a clearance. 

Odisha are yet to threaten Gurpreet and the second half has gotten off to a very slow start with the ball stuck mainly in the midfield. 

Unwanted record incoming

Can Odisha get back into the game to pick up their first win of the season? As it stands, they are on their way to register four defeats in a row for the first time in their history. 

Odisha 0-1 Bengaluru

Odisha started the game well but find themselves behind at the break thanks to an excellent cross and a good header that have Bengaluru the lead. 

The goal has given Bengaluru plenty of confidence. Odisha look deflated as the Blues have since controlled proceedings on the field. The goal came from the game's first shot on target. 

𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗬 🔥

Sunil Chhetri now has 50 goal contributions in the Indian Super League. 👏👏👏

42 goals ⚽
8 assists 👟
80 matches. 🗓#ISL #WeAreBFC pic.twitter.com/a2X1ujtZG6

— Goal India (@Goal_India) December 17, 2020

Odisha 0-1 Bengaluru

SUNIL CHHETRI HITS 50. Khabra plays a brilliant cross into the box from the right flank and Chhetri gets on the end of it to heads the ball past Arshdeep into the net! Good goal, brilliant assist. 

Bengaluru have had more of the ball - 58 per cent possession but neither team has managed to register a shot on target in the first 30 minutes of the game. 

The players have resorted to fouling the man in possession of the ball, thereby bringing promising moves to an end. As a result, the tempo of the game has come down as both teams choose the safest available passing route. 

Bengaluru threaten with multiple attempts from inside the Odisha box. Ashique tries to send the ball towards the goal twice but fails to get a proper connection on the ball. The ball finally falls to Paartalu who miskicks it and gifts possession back to Odisha. 

Both teams are looking to score a goal here and that is good to see. Odisha are pushing players forward, which is welcome change to the passive nature of the game that was on display in their previous matches. 

Jerry lays the ball for Onwu down the right flank before the strike plays a clever low cross into the centre of the box. Mauricio does not anticipate such a delivery from the flank and as a result, the ball rolls out for a goal kick. 

Paartalu in the thick of things once again, this time with an ambitious effort from distance that sails over the bar. 

Erik Paartalu gets to the end of a Khabra throw-in but his effort is deflected wide by Jacob Tratt. No early goal for the Blues, just yet. 

Odisha 0-0 Bengaluru

Bengaluru get the game underway. What do we expect? Plenty of goalmouth action. 

Sunil Chhetri is one goal or assist away from becoming the first Indian player to reach 50 goal contributions in the ISL. He has (41 goals and 8 assists) in 79 matches.

With nine points from five matches, Bengaluru are fourth on the table ahead of the game and four points off the top which is occupied by ATK Mohun Bagan.

Odisha are 10th only above East Bengal and below Kerala Blasters with a point in their kitty. The bottom three teams are winless. 

The Blues have two wins and three draws this season. Carles Cuadrat's team, like Odisha, are unchanged for tonight's fixture. But unlike Odisha, they won their last game - a resounding 4-2 win against Kerala Blasters. They had four different scores in that game - Cleiton Silva, Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado and Sunil Chhetri. 

pic.twitter.com/1kk5I4UFNn

— Marcelo Leite (@marcelinholeite) December 15, 2020

Stuart Baxter has not been able to get Odisha going so far this season. Not only have they been unable to win matches, but also suffered while they dropped points. Their star signing, former Newcastle United centre-back Steven Taylor is yet to find a way to stop the team conceding goals. Up front, Manuel Onwu has looked clueless and Diego Mauricio has been inconsistent. Marcelinho has rarely been used and the player had to take to social media to deny rumours of a dressing room bust-up with the head coach. 

🔵 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🔵

Odisha are winless, Bengaluru are unbeaten, 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 😎#ISL #OFCBFC pic.twitter.com/lwvlpt1SkM

— Goal India (@Goal_India) December 17, 2020

Odisha, chasing their first win of the season, go up against Bengaluru in the 31st 2020-21 Indian Super League match at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim tonight.