OFC vs NEUFC Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 3 November 2023
Time: 20:00 (IST)
Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar
OFC vs NEUFC Match Preview
Odisha FC defensive vulnerabilities raised its head again as they went 2-0 down inside 20 minutes to Bengaluru FC but this time they managed to turn it around. Puitea’s belter in the 23rd minute gave spirit to the side with Isak Vanruatfela levelling the score before half-time. The match-winner came on the hour mark from Amey Ranawade to end the thrilling encounter 3-2. The manner of the win will help to push the side again after two sobering away losses in the league. The Juggernauts maintained their unbeaten start at the Kalinga Stadium in the ISL this season and will be hoping to extend it as they welcome NorthEast United. A fixture Sergio Lobera’s men have dominated in recent times but the Highlanders are nothing like before this season as they are putting up commendable displays one after the other. Odisha FC would like to win this tough fixture to give them momentum ahead of the next two AFC Cup ties on either side of the international break. This is also the fourth game the home side is playing in merely 11 days so this is the testing period for the squad’s fitness and depth.
Meanwhile, NorthEast United also needed a turnaround to cancel out Daniel Chima’s opener in the first half but it did not arrive until stoppage time. The resilient display from the Men of Steels was finally breached when Michel Zabaco headed in a 90-plus four-minute equaliser before Romain Philippoteaux won which was converted by the Brazilian Ibson Melo to spark wild celebrations in Guwahati. A second straight win at home and unbeaten in the last four games overall, the Highlanders are showing playoff contenders form early in the season which will be a gigantic leap for them from the last campaigns. Under Juan Pedro Benali, the club finally looks to be heading in a direction. Fifth-placed NorthEast will hope to push further up the table now with their unbeaten away steak at stake in the trip to Bhubaneshwar. The issue for the side has been the inability to keep clean sheets and they need one quickly because presently too much burden lays on the attackers to deliver.
OFC vs NEUFC Predicted Lineups
OFC: Amrinder Singh; Amey Ranawade, Narender Gahlot, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Puitea, Ahmed Jahouh, CY Goddard; Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Diego Mauricio, Isak Vanlalruatfela
NEUFC: Mirshad Michu; Soraisham Singh, Asheer Akhtar, Michel Zabaco, Tondonba Singh; Konsam Phalguni, Mohammed Bemammer; Jithin M.S, Ibson Melo, Parthib Gogoi
OFC vs NEUFC Dream11 Prediction
GK: Michu (8)
DEF: Ranawade (8), Zabaco (7.5), Akhtar (9)
MID: Jerry M (8.5), Jahouh (9), Bemammer (8.5), K Singh (9)
FW: Mauricio (9), Parthib (9), Vanlalruatfela (7.5)
Vice-captain: Parthib Gogoi
Captain: Jerry Mawhmingthanga
