ISL: Odisha FC pulls off remarkable comeback against Chennaiyin FC- Talking points

Chennai: The Marina Arena witnessed a dramatic match between Chennaiyin FC and Odisha FC, with the visitors pulling off a stunning comeback with two late goals, resulting in a 2-2 draw on Thursday. 

Wilmar Jordan Gil's second-half brace, both set up by Connor Shields, looked to be enough to give CFC their second home win of the season but a series of unfortunate events and a refereeing error in failing to spot an offside cost Chennaiyin dear. 

Jordan Gil nets another brace, takes his tally to 8

Chennaiyin have had an issue in front of goal, with a lack of clinicality in taking chances but for Wilmar Jordan Gil, things have been working out well. 

This is his third brace this season, taking his overall tally to eight for the season, and in a team that has found it difficult to score goals off late, he has been a constant threat in front of goal. 

After a placid first half, Gil was in the right place at the right time to slot home both of CFC's goals and almost had his hat trick when he hit the woodwork later. 

He also squandered a golden chance to set his teammate Daniel Chima Chukwu but his pass was very soft and was defended by the Odisha defence. 

Although his goals weren't enough to give his team all three points, his form would be one of the positives Owen Coyle will take. 

Connor 'the engine' Shields

Connor Shields has been the best player for Chennaiyin FC this season by a long shot, in what has been a very inconsistent season for the rest of the squad. 

Considered the engine of the team, he was everywhere tonight and set up both the goals for his side, in what the head coach Owen Coyle called a 'captain's performance.' 

He won possession in the 48th minute high up the pitch and then drove the ball into the box and set up Gil for the opening goal of the match. 

Five minutes later, he took the ball from the halfway line along the byline and once again beat the Odisha defense and squared it for Gil who once again had a tap-in. 

In both of the goals, Connor Shields architectured the goal out of nowhere, and he has been doing it all season for the Marina Machans. 

With two assists, four chances created, seven times possession won with a near 96% pass accuracy, Connor Shields had a spectacular game, which made it all the more frustrating for him to not see his efforts see his team home with all three points. 

Despite a scrappy draw, Odisha have issues 

At the 75th-minute mark, when the drinks break was called, Odisha looked done and dusted. There was no life in the match as the Marina Machans were in cruise control. 

But out of nowhere, in the 80th minute, Odisha got a goal and since then, they took the upper hand with CFC looking edgier and in the end, fortune favored them with a 97th-minute equalizer. 

This is not the first time OFC have overturned a two-goal deficit to come away with a point, with the Kalinga Warriors doing the same against Kerala Blasters just a few weeks back.

But headcoach Sergio Libero was not happy with how his team performed in the game overall, highlighting the increased frequency of 'sloppy' goals his side is conceding.

"It's more about our mistakes than the merit of the opponent when we concede the goals. I respect Chennaiyin FC and I think they played a very good game but you analyze the goals, it's more of our mistakes than the merit of the opponent," he said in the post-match press conference. 

He emphasized on avoiding silly mistakes that leads to goals for the opponents as they enter the crucial phase of the season. 

Did referees cost Chennaiyin three points? 

A major talking point from the match was the first of two goals Odisha FC scored, which Dorielton Gomes seemingly scored from an offside position. 

Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle was not happy talking about the referee not spotting what according to him was a very obvious call. 

"He was clearly offside. We're not talking about one of those things where it's really tight. This is a clear offside," Coyle said in the post-match press conference. 

There was also a screengrab circulating on social media, going by which it looks like the referee failed to spot the offside. 

What next for both the teams?

Chennaiyin FC are on the road for their next game and will face Mohammedan SC on January 15th, whereas Odisha FC will be on road for their next game as well, this time travelling to Kerala to take on Kerala Blasters on 13th January.