Odisha FC Dominates NorthEast United with 4-1 Victory in ISL Clash
Odisha FC Triumphs Over NorthEast United
In a thrilling encounter at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, Odisha FC secured a decisive 4-1 win against NorthEast United FC during the Indian Super League 2025-26 on Friday. Rahul KP was the standout performer, scoring two goals to lead his team to victory.
Odisha FC took an early lead thanks to Rahul KP, but NorthEast United quickly equalized through Macarton Nickson. However, debutant Subham Bhattacharya restored Odisha's advantage before halftime. The match saw Highlanders' right-back Muthu Mayakkannan receive a red card in the first half. In the second half, Rahul KP netted his second goal, followed by an own goal from Bekey Oram, sealing the win for Odisha FC. This victory marked their first of the season, elevating them to ninth place in the standings with five points and two games in hand, while NorthEast United remained in seventh with six points.
NorthEast United's head coach Juan Pedro Benali made a single change to his lineup, introducing Asheer Akhtar for Miquel Zabaco. On the other hand, Odisha FC's coach T.G. Purushothaman made two adjustments, giving a debut to 19-year-old left-back Subham Bhattacharya and bringing in midfielder Lalrinfela Khiangte.
First Half: Action-Packed with Goals and a Red Card
The match kicked off with Odisha making an immediate impact in the sixth minute due to a defensive error from NorthEast. Striker Rahim Ali pressured goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh, allowing the ball to fall to Rahul, who calmly finished the chance.
NorthEast United responded quickly, leveling the score in the 10th minute when Parthib Gogoi set up Macarton Nickson, who scored with a composed right-footed shot from inside the box.
Both teams had opportunities to score, with NorthEast's attackers facing blocked shots and Odisha threatening through right winger Isak Vanlalruatfela. A crucial goal-line clearance by midfielder Lalthathanga Khawlhring denied NorthEast during this period.
Odisha regained the lead in the 24th minute when debutant Subham capitalized on a corner delivered by Isak. Rahim flicked the ball into the danger zone, and Subham reacted swiftly to slot it into the bottom-right corner, making it 2-1.
The situation worsened for NorthEast United in the 36th minute when Muthu Mayakkannan was shown a red card for a foul on Rahul KP, leaving them to face the remainder of the match with ten players.
Second Half: Odisha Seals the Game
The Highlanders started the second half aggressively, seeking an equalizer, but Odisha's defense held strong. Rahul KP nearly increased his tally in the 52nd minute but failed to connect with a teammate on the counter.
Odisha began to dominate as the match progressed, taking advantage of their numerical superiority. In the 65th minute, Rahul KP found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and finished confidently, extending the lead to 3-1.
Just three minutes later, Odisha scored again. A cross from right-back Vanlalzuidika found Ali, who set up Isak for a powerful shot. NorthEast's Bekey attempted to clear but inadvertently scored an own goal, making it 4-1 in the 68th minute.
Odisha continued to threaten, with Isak testing Gurmeet Singh from distance in the 72nd minute. NorthEast United tried to respond late in the game, but Thoi Singh and Asheer Akhtar both missed their chances.
Despite several late attempts from both sides, the score remained unchanged, confirming a commanding 4-1 victory for Odisha FC, marking their first win of the season while NorthEast United faced a challenging home defeat.