Coming on the back of two defeats in two games, Odisha FC will be vying for their first points as neighbours Jamshedpur FC come visiting on Saturday.
The Kalinga Warriors had a shaky start to the campaign, falling to Chennaiyin FC at home before a defeat away in the capital to Punjab FC. On the other hand, the Red Miners come into the match in red hot form, with two wins in their bag from their opening games.
Khalid Jamil’s team stunned FC Goa at the Fatorda with a comeback win, before edging Mumbai City FC at home by the odd goal.
Odisha had a happy outing against Saturday’s opponents last season, with a convincing 4-1 comeback win at the Kalinga stadium. Isak cancelled out Rei Tachikawa’s opener, before a Roy Krishna brace either side of a Diego Mauricio penalty secured a famous win for Sergio Lobera’s men.
Squad:
Odisha FC continue to miss defensive stalwart Carlos Delgado, who is facing an extended spell on the sidelines, while Saviour Gama will also miss the game due to injury.
Kalinga Stadium could see the return of familiar faces. Former Odisha FC defender Shubham Sarangi joined the Jamshedpur team in the summer, while winger Aniket Jadhav also made the switch up north. Midfielder Javier Hernandez could also face his former club, having signed from Bengaluru FC.
Pre-match Press Conference:
Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera and player Roy Krishna addressed the press conference.
“They’ve had a great start, picking up 6 points against tough opponents. They’re a very balanced and physical team, but for us, the focus is always on ourselves. We need to learn from our previous games and be ready for the challenge. It’s a great opportunity for us to perform at home.” ~ Sergio Lobera
Lobera also addressed concerns about Hugo Boumous, who appeared to struggle towards the end of the last match. “We’ll assess Hugo in training today, but I’m optimistic he’ll be available. Unfortunately, Saviour Gama is not fit for this game.”
Meanwhile, striker Roy Krishna spoke about the team’s mindset after the disappointing start. “Last season is in the past. We’re focused on the present and the future. Despite the two losses, there’s a lot of positive energy in training. Everyone’s pushing for more, and we believe we can turn it around, starting tomorrow.”
Match Details:
Odisha FC vs Jamshedpur FC
28th September 2024
Kick Off 5:00 pm
Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar
Live on Sports18, JioCinema
