Kings down Odisha in 5-goal thriller

Sports Desk News :: Bashundhara Kings Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes celebrates after scoring one of his two goals against Odisha Football Club during their AFC Cup match at the Kings Arena in the city on Monday.— Courtesy photo

Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings came from a goal down to beat Indian outfit Odisha Football Club 3-2 in their AFC Cup Group D first-leg match at the Kings Arena in the city on Monday.

This was also Kings’ first win after losing 1-3 to Maziya Sports & Recreation of Maldives in Male in their first match on September 19.

Kings’ Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes scored a brace after his compatriot and midfielder Miguel Damasceno scored an equaliser, while Odisha forward duo Diego Mauricio De Brito and Jerry Mawihmingthanga scored once each for their side.

Odisha got the lead in the 19th minute when Diego Mauricio’s diagonal shot from the box beat Kings’ goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan following a pass from defender Laldinliana Renthlei Dinliana.

Kings were back in the game, with Miguel scoring the equaliser in the 39th minute with a header from the edge of the left post.

The four-time BPL champions went to break with a 2-1 lead as Dorielton headed the ball into the net in the 45th minute on a cross by forward Rakib Hossain from the right side.

Dorielton made the margin 3-1 in the 54th minute when his right-footed drive from the box found the back of the net following a cross provided by Robson.

Odisha forward Mawihmingthanga reduced the gap in the 66th minute.

Then both sides desperately tried for more goals, but woodwork denied both the teams within a span of 10 minutes.

Kings defender Boburbek Yuldashov’s header from the box on a cross by Robson was rebounded from the crossbar in the 75th minute, just 10 minutes before Odisha midfielder Sakamoto CY’s close-ranged header also rebounded from the crossbar.

Odisha keeper and captain Amrinder Singh saved his post in the third minute of stoppage time by denying Kings’ defender Boburbek Yuldashov’s headed attempt following a corner from the right by Robson.

Kings will play their next match against another Indian side, Mohun Bagan, at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 24, while Odisha FC will play Maziya Sports & Recreation of the Maldives in Male.

Odisha FC lost their first match against Mohun Bagan Super Giant 0-4 in Bhubaneswar.