Punjab FC Wins Again: Nihal Sudheesh and Leon Augustine Shine Against Odisha FC
New Delhi, India – September 20: Punjab FC secured their second straight win in the Indian Super League with a 2-1 victory over Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Match Highlights
Goals from Nihal Sudheesh and Leon Augustine ensured the win for Punjab FC, moving them to second place in the league with six points. Odisha FC suffered their second defeat in the league.
Team Lineups
Punjab FC’s Head Coach Panagiotis Dilmperis named an unchanged lineup for his first home match. The attacking trio of Mushaga Bakenga, Ezequiel Vidal, and Nihal Sudheesh were supported by midfielders Nikhil Prabhu, Filip Mrzljak, and Vinit Rai. Odisha FC’s coach Sergio Lobera left Ahmed Jahouh on the bench, opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Diego Mauricio, Roy Krishna, and Hugo Boumous in attack.
First Half
Punjab FC dominated the first half, with Nihal Sudheesh scoring the opening goal in the 27th minute. Despite several opportunities, Punjab FC couldn’t extend their lead before halftime.
Second Half
Odisha FC made several changes in the second half, introducing Ahmed Jahouh, Rahim Ali, and Jerry Mawihngthanga. However, Punjab FC’s defense held strong, and Leon Augustine sealed the win with a goal in the 89th minute. Hugo Boumous scored a late goal for Odisha FC, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Punjab FC’s defense, including Khaimingthang Lhungdim, Abhishek Singh, Ivan Novoselec, and Suresh Meitei, played a crucial role in the victory.
Doubts Revealed
Punjab FC -: Punjab FC is a football (soccer) team from the state of Punjab in India. They play in the Indian Super League, which is a big football competition in India.
Odisha FC -: Odisha FC is another football team from the state of Odisha in India. They also compete in the Indian Super League.
Indian Super League -: The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional football league in India. It is one of the top football leagues in the country where different teams from various states compete.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium -: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is a large sports stadium in India. There are several stadiums with this name in different cities, and they are used for various sports, including football.
Nihal Sudheesh -: Nihal Sudheesh is a football player who plays for Punjab FC. He scored one of the goals in the match against Odisha FC.
Leon Augustine -: Leon Augustine is another football player for Punjab FC. He also scored a goal in the match against Odisha FC.
second consecutive win -: This means that Punjab FC has won two matches in a row, one after the other.
second place in the league -: This means that Punjab FC is currently ranked second among all the teams in the Indian Super League based on their performance.