Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the defending ISL knock-out champion, faces an uphill task as it prepares to host Odisha FC in the second leg of semifinal 1 of ISL-10. The match, scheduled for April 28 at the Salt Lake Stadium, will be a crucial encounter for both teams, with Mohun Bagan needing to win by a minimum two-goal margin to qualify for the final.
Odisha FC holds a slender 2-1 advantage from the first leg, which was played at the Kalinga Stadium five days ago. This means that a draw will be sufficient for the visitors, while the hosts must find a way to score at least twice without conceding to overturn the deficit.
Mohun Bagan will be buoyed by the massive support of its home crowd, which is expected to be around 62,000 strong. The team has a history of performing well in front of its home fans, having recently won its maiden League Winner’s Shield at the same venue.
However, Odisha FC will not be an easy opponent. The team has been in good form throughout the season and will be confident of holding on to its lead. Odisha FC will be without Spanish defender Carlos Delgado due to suspension, while Mohun Bagan SG will miss Albanian forward Armando Sadiku for the same reason.
The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. Mohun Bagan will need to be clinical in front of goal and avoid making any defensive errors, while Odisha FC will need to be disciplined and organized in its defense.
The winner of this match will face either Hyderabad FC or ATK Mohun Bagan in the final on May 21.
