ISL: Survival secured, Odisha FC now take on Punjab FC test

Securing survival with a win over Sporting Club Delhi in their last game, Odisha FC will look to improve their standings when they face Punjab FC in their penultimate Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday.
Hovering above the drop zone for the last few weeks, the three points against SC Delhi have given the Kalinga Warriors some relief going into the last two rounds of the league. They are currently placed 12th with 10 points from 11 matches.
“Yes, this is the situation, but we have to realise we can do more because we are not a team that should be just surviving relegation or anything like that. It happened due to certain reasons, and it was not fully in our hands, but it happened,” Odisha coach TG Purushothaman said ahead of the game on Friday.
“Now it’s our turn to come up strong in the next two matches and move towards where we truly deserve to be, higher up in the table. Even a few points will remind everyone that our players have quality, and we need to prove that we are a team that belongs at that level. For confidence, it’s very important that we give our best performance in these two matches,” he added.
For Punjab FC, who were in title contention but have lost momentum with a couple of draws and losses in recent games, the match presents an opportunity to push for the top spots. They are currently sixth with 19 points from 11 matches.
A win on Saturday would take Punjab level on points with table-toppers East Bengal, who have a game in hand, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mumbai City FC are also in the mix at the top of the table.
Asked about the challenge Punjab would pose, the OFC coach said, “They are very strong in attack, especially with their quality players upfront. We need to take care of that first. We want to play with the ball, not negative football, but positive, attractive and, most importantly, effective football.”
“Converting chances is very important, especially in the final third. Build-up play, pressing and organisation are key areas we’ve worked on. Let’s see what happens, we hope to get a positive result,” added Purushothaman.
Meanwhile, the Juggernauts will be without injured Rahim Ali for the crucial encounter.