Kalinga Super Cup Day 2
Kalinga Super Cup 2025: Day 2 Match Summaries
Day two of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 witnessed two compelling Round of 16 encounters at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Monday, April 21, 2025. The day featured FC Goa against Gokulam Kerala FC in the early evening, followed by a late-night clash between Odisha FC and Punjab FC. Both matches concluded with decisive results, setting the stage for exciting quarter-final matchups.
Match 1: FC Goa 3 - 0 Gokulam Kerala FC
The first match of the day saw Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa comfortably dispatch I-League outfit Gokulam Kerala FC with a 3-0 victory. The Gaurs showcased their superior quality and tactical prowess, securing their place in the quarter-finals with a dominant performance.
Match Summary:
The match began with FC Goa asserting its dominance from the outset. They controlled possession and created several early chances, putting the Gokulam Kerala defence under pressure. The breakthrough for the Gaurs came in the 24th minute, courtesy of their in-form Spanish forward, Iker Guarrotxena. He capitalised on a well-worked attacking move, slotting the ball past the Gokulam Kerala goalkeeper with a composed finish.
Gokulam Kerala struggled to gain a foothold in the game, finding it difficult to penetrate the organised FC Goa defence. Their attempts to counter-attack were often thwarted by the Gaurs' midfield, which effectively shielded their backline.
FC Goa continued to press, and Guarrotxena doubled their lead in the 35th minute with a well-taken strike. This second goal further dented Gokulam Kerala's morale, making it an uphill battle for the I-League side to get back into the contest.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with FC Goa maintaining control of the game. They created further opportunities to extend their lead, while Gokulam Kerala fought hard to contain the ISL team's attacking threats. However, their efforts were not enough to prevent FC Goa from scoring again.
In the 71st minute, Iker Guarrotxena completed his hat-trick with another clinical finish, sealing a comfortable 3-0 victory for FC Goa. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award and ensured his team's progression to the quarter-finals.
Gokulam Kerala tried to respond in the final stages of the match, but their attacks lacked the cutting edge to trouble the FC Goa goalkeeper. The Gaurs saw out the remaining minutes professionally, securing a clean sheet and a convincing win.
Key Moments:
- 24th minute: Iker Guarrotxena opens the scoring for FC Goa with a composed finish.
- 35th minute: Iker Guarrotxena scores his second goal, extending FC Goa's lead to 2-0.
- 71st minute: Iker Guarrotxena completes his hat-trick, making it 3-0 for FC Goa.
Match Statistics:
Player of the Match: Iker Guarrotxena (FC Goa)
Match 2: Odisha FC 0 - 3 Punjab FC
The second match of the evening witnessed a surprising result as Punjab FC, despite having a difficult ISL season, delivered a clinical performance to defeat the home favorites, Odisha FC, 3-0. This emphatic victory propelled Punjab FC into the quarter-finals, while Odisha FC were knocked out of the tournament on their home turf.
Match Summary:
Punjab FC started the match brightly, showing no signs of being overawed by the home crowd or their higher-ranked opponents. They adopted a disciplined defensive structure and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Their early pressure paid off in the 14th minute when Asmir Suljic calmly slotted home the opening goal after a sharp exchange in the Odisha FC penalty area.
Odisha FC struggled to find their rhythm in the first half. Despite having more possession, they lacked creativity in the final third and failed to create clear-cut chances. Punjab FC's defence remained resolute, frustrating the Odisha FC attackers.
The second half saw Odisha FC come out with more urgency, trying to get back into the game. They created a few opportunities, but their finishing was poor, failing to test the Punjab FC goalkeeper significantly. Jerry Lalrinzuala had a golden opportunity in the 66th minute but completely miskicked his attempt.
Punjab FC capitalised on Odisha FC's profligacy in front of the goal. In the 69th minute, Norberto "Pulga" Vidal, who was orchestrating much of Punjab's attacking play, shrugged off a challenge and fired a powerful left-footed shot into the far corner, making it 2-0 for the away side.
Despite going two goals down, Odisha FC continued to push forward, but their attacks remained disjointed and easily dealt with by the well-organised Punjab FC defence. Goalkeeper Muheet Shabir put in a strong performance for Punjab FC, making crucial saves when called upon.
In the final minute of regulation time, Punjab FC sealed a memorable victory. Substitute Nihal Sudeesh latched onto a through ball, rounded the Odisha FC goalkeeper, and slotted the ball into an empty net, completing a commanding 3-0 win for Punjab FC.
The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations among the Punjab FC players and fans, while the home crowd was left stunned by their team's disappointing performance.
Key Moments:
- 14th minute: Asmir Suljic opens the scoring for Punjab FC with a calm finish.
- 69th minute: Pulga Vidal extends Punjab FC's lead to 2-0 with a powerful strike.
- 90th minute: Nihal Sudeesh scores Punjab FC's third goal, sealing a 3-0 victory.
Match Statistics:
Player of the Match: Pulga Vidal (Punjab FC)
These results from day two of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 set up intriguing quarter-final clashes, with FC Goa and Punjab FC demonstrating their capabilities in emphatic fashion.
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