The fixture between Odisha FC and East Bengal has always provided hostility since their first meeting on the ISL stage in 2021. The games have also seen a record amount of goals scored in single matches and historical feats achieved by both sides. One thing that was common in both teams was that they always ended in the bottom half of the table but there has been an upsurge in the recent season.
Recently, the rivalry got fired up after the Super Cup final in which the Red and Golds triumphed at the opponent’s den. However, the Juggernauts have come up on the winning side more often. Of the nine meetings, Odisha FC has claimed five victories compared to East Bengal managing only two while on two other occasions, points have been shared.
Here we look at five memorable meetings between Odisha FC and East Bengal:
East Bengal 3-1 Odisha FC - ISL (3 January 2021)
The 3-1 win for East Bengal over Odisha FC in the first-ever meeting three years ago was a historical one for the Red and Golds. Since their introduction in the ISL in 2020, the Torch-Bearers remained winless in the first seven games of the season but came up top while facing the Juggernauts. All four goals in the match were scored by East Bengal themselves including the late own goal which became a mere consolation for Odisha FC. So far, this win is the only one managed by the Kolkata giants in this fixture in league meetings.
Odisha FC 6-5 East Bengal - ISL (27 February 2021)
The second game between the pair only a month later became remarkable in ISL history. A mind-boggling 11 goals were scored in a single match, making it one of the most high-scoring affairs in the league. It was the last game of the season for both teams with nothing left to play for. Odisha FC came out top from the match with Paul Ramfanzauva and Jerry Mawihmingthanga scoring a brace while Diego Mauricio scored the winner. Aaron Amadi scored twice as well for East Bengal including reducing the deficit to one in stoppage time but the comeback did not materialise.
Odisha FC 6-4 East Bengal - ISL (30 November 2021)
Amazingly, another tennis score popped in the third game of this meeting with 10 goals scored this time. Once again, Odisha FC triumphed in the goals galore coming from behind to go 4-1 up with 20 minutes to play with center-back Hector Rodas scoring twice. Substitute Ariday Cabrera's late brace was crucial to seal the win as it fended off East Bengal’s late surge brought by their substitute Daniel Chima Chukwu with two stoppage-time goals, including a penalty. The creator Javi Hernandez scored a goal and provided two assists in a player-of-the-match performance.
East Bengal 2-4 Odisha FC - (18 November 2022)
Odisha FC scripted a spectacular comeback in ISL history when the pair met for the fifth time in ISL. Then struggling East Bengal were in dreamland as they went 2-0 up before half-time with strikes from Thongkhosiem Haokip and Mahesh Singh. However with Pedro Martin and Jerry Mawhingthanga brought onto the pitch after the break, the Juggernauts completely changed the tide. Martin scored two goals within seconds while Jerry put Odisha FC ahead for the first time in the match. Nandha Kumar, now East Bengal forward, then sealed the deal in the 76th minute.
East Bengal 3-2 Odisha FC (AET) - Super Cup final (28 January 2024)
The 2024 Super Cup final was the best ever witnessed in the tournament’s short history thanks to the drama this fixture brings. East Bengal triumphed in a nervy 120 minutes of the showpiece to lift their first national trophy in 12 years and also made a place in the AFC competition for the first time since the 2014-15 season. The final was hosted at the Kalinga Stadium with the home side taking the lead through Diego Mauricio in the 39th minute. The Red and Gold overturned the deficit in the second half with Nandha Kumar and Saul Crespo from the spot, both have won consecutive Super Cup titles now, scoring against their old side. Ahmed Jahouh’s last-minute penalty forced extra time, where East Bengal’s talismanic Brazilian Cleiton Silva shattered Odisha FC’s hope of title defence with a 111th-minute winner.
Odisha FC vs East Bengal Head-to-Head
(In all competitions)
Played - 9
Odisha FC won - 5
Drawn - 2
East Bengal won - 2
(In ISL)
Played - 7
Odisha FC won - 5
Drawn - 1
East Bengal won - 1
