Kerala edge Odisha; keep semi-final hopes alive

by Ayan Abdulla February 19, 2023

Defending champions Kerala edged past Odisha 1-0 in the 3rd round of a Group A fixture at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha earlier today.

The win has kept Kerala in contention for a spot in the semis, which is set to be played at Saudi Arabia.

Nijo Gilbert scored the winner for Kerala in the 16th minute of the game, from the spot.

Odisha had a great chance in the 12th minute, when an unmarked Advin received a long ball from Rakesh from the right-flank, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Kerala goalkeeper and skipper Midhun.

Kerala was awarded a penalty for a handball offence, in the 16th minute. Arjun headed Riswan Ali’s corner into the box, but it touched Odisha’s Chandra, which led to the game-changing penalty. Nijo Gilbert, who took it, made no mistake and successfully converted the penalty to hand his side the lead and eventually, all 3 points from the game.

Odisha created many chances in search of an equaliser, but convert any. They had a decent opportunity in the 83rd minute when SK Farid dispatched an excellent cross into the box, but Kerala keeper advanced and punched out the ball. Two Odisha players were in the box to connect it, with one of them being offside. The referee spotted it and it was called offside later.

Kerala could have scored one more in the last second of the injury time of the second-half, when Nijo Gilbert tried his luck from distance, but his shot went inches off the target.

Lineups

Kerala- Midhun, Belgin, Manoj, Mohamed, Arjun, Shinu, Nijo, Hrishi, Asif, Riswan, Vishak.

Odisha- Siddharth, Pintu, Rakesh, Prabin, Jamir, Advin, Chandra, SK Farid, Rahul, Anand, Chandra Muduli.

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