ISL 2021-22: Odisha stun leaders Mumbai City to throw league wide open

Faheem Hussain/Focus Sports/ ISL

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Odisha FC completed a stunning second-half comeback to pull off an upset 4-2 win over Mumbai City FC at the Tilak Maidan on Monday. The result leaves Des Buckingham's league leaders winless in three games. This has blown the league wide open - Kiko Ramirez and his Odisha are a mere three points behind the leaders, despite them being in seventh place on the table.

Aridai Cabrera (4') scored an early goal against the run of play but Ahmed Jahouh (11') quickly brought the game on level terms with a superb finish. Igor Angulo (38') then headed his team into the lead before Jerry Mawihmingthanga (70', 77') scored a memorable brace to hand the lead back to the Odisha. Jonathas (89') put the result beyond any doubt by scoring the fourth.

The match began at a rapid pace. Mumbai City FC's Mourtada Fall gave the ball away with an unforced error in his own half which led to Aridai Cabrera then twisting him inside and out before curling a shot at goal. Mumbai goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz got both hands on the ball and yet could not prevent the ball from rolling inside the net. A few minutes later, Ahmed Jahouh found the back of the net with a sensational curling shot from almost 25-yards out.

Raynier Fernandes then had a great opportunity to send his team into the lead at the half-hour mark but the midfielder miscued his header which went wide to his disappointment. However, it was Igor Angulo who finally gave the Islanders the lead with a precise header from a Jahouh free-kick.

The second half also started off at a rapid pace as Odisha began on the front foot. Moments after the hour mark, Sahil Tanwar missed a header to score the equaliser from 12-yards away after finding himself unmarked inside the box.

Ygor Catatau looked to have scored another goal from the bench but he was adjudged to be in an offside position.

Within seconds, Jerry Mawihmingthanga scored his first goal of the season at the other end as he equalised with a brave diving header at the far post. The winger then proceeded to score OFC's third and stunned the league leaders with a powerful drive that went straight into the top corner from a tight angle after veering in off the right flank. To inflict more misery, Jerry turned provider by delivering a pinpoint cross for Jonathas who calmly placed his shot in the back of the net to score the fourth.

A late headed attempt from Catatau was saved by Kamaljit Singh from point-blank range, and Odisha held on to their lead and managed their fourth win of the season.

Top-ranked Mumbai City FC will play bottom-ranked SC East Bengal in their next fixture at the Tilak Maidan on Friday whereas Odisha FC faces Juan Ferrando's ATK Mohun Bagan at the Fatorda on Saturday.