Mohun Bagan vs Odisha Live: Score, Updates, Commentary, News from ISL Semifinal second leg

Mohun Bagan is back home at the Salt Lake stadium and they have quite the task in front of them. Having lost the first leg of their semifinal 2-1 to Odisha FC, the winning goal courtesy of former Salt Lake favorite Roy Krishna, Bagan started on the back foot. The ISL league shield winners, though, have been in good form at home. In fact, they beat Mumbai City here in a must-win clash on the last day of the season to clinch the shield. With Armando Sadiku suspended after a red card (second yellow received for engaging in a rather silly fight), Jason Cummings or Sahal Abdul Samad could step up to fill the void in the XI. This quality on Bagan’s bench means a one goal disadvantage is nowhere near insurmountable.

Odisha, though, has no pushovers as seen in the first leg. Although both teams were guilty of lackadaisical defending for large parts (contributed to the openers from Manvir Singh and Carlos Delgado), Odisha’s fight and quality up top shone through at the end. They’ll arrive at the Salt Lake with Delgado suspended (second yellow received for a blatant handball), but that might open up space for Diego Mauricio to play alongside Krishna.

Bagan coach Antonio Habas knows just how big this second leg is. Speaking ahead of the match, he told the press, “There is no overconfidence. My job is to give confidence to my players. We have players with a 100% idea of ​​winning. But we have to play (well), we don’ t have any other option. This is like a final for us, not just a semi-final.”

“Odisha FC have a good team with experienced players and have the possibility to win,” he said. “Logically, it will be absolutely not easy. We have to be prepared to compete with them.”

Odisha coach Sergio Lobera, who extolled the virtue of suffering after the first leg win, believes his team can reach the final. “Big game against a big team. In a very good stadium. Difficult place to play. But, we did it, in the AFC Cup also [Odisha won 5-2 at the Salt Lake in their AFC Cup group stage match]. The team showed the character we need to show for big games, and I am excited about this game. I am confident because our players, always this season, have shown everyone that they are ready for the games and… I think we can get a very good result and to reach the final.”

You can follow the build-up, and subsequently the match, LIVE right here:

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