ISL Match Result: Odisha FC Rally To Beat Kerala Blasters 2-1; Roy Krishna Scores 50th ISL Goal

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ISL Match Result: Two quick goals by Roy Krishna in the second half allowed Odisha to rally to win against Kerala Blasters, who started brightly through an early goal by Dimitrios Diamantakos at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday (February 2, 2024).

Roy Krishna's brace (54' 57') didn't just allow him to go top of the Golden Boot race with nine goals but also become the third player in ISL history to score 50-plus goals behind Sunil Chhetri and Bartholomew Ogbeche. Dimitrios Diamantakos (11'), meanwhile, is second in the top goalscorer run with eight goals.

The Greek forward continued where he had left off in the first leg of the campaign and slotted home his shot with deadly ease. While Odisha FC have been one of the more defensively sound teams this season, the Ivan Vukomanovic-led Blasters have frequently performed as a cohesive creative unit in the ISL 2023-24. Their offensive effort was again another example of it, as their two-striker system excelled and effectively exposed the Odisha FC defense.

From that point on, though, it was all Odisha FC's, as every player in their attacking lineup made some stunning shots to tie the score. In the twentieth minute, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, also referred to as Puitea, attempted a long-range shot from outside the 18-yard box, but Sachin Suresh stopped it with his hands to preserve their lead.

Krishna, who at 36 is still among the competition's most effective strikers, dominated the second half. In the 53rd minute, Moroccan midfielder Ahmed Jahouh delivered a curling, accurate cross to the Fijian who was stationed merely a few yards away from Sachin. He outmanoeuvred the Kerala Blasters FC defence to put the ball past the goalkeeper.

By then, the opposition's defense had grown a little confused, and the Kalinga Warriors had made their breakthrough and were pressing forward. Similar opportunities were spotted by fullback Amey Ranawade, who raced up the right wing and then slid in a well placed pass for Krishna. The former striker for Bengaluru FC sprang and nodded the ball in, so nullifying Kerala Blasters FC's early advantage and guaranteeing that his team would bounce back quickly from their defeat in the Kalinga Super Cup top match.