ISL 2021-22: Given the chances, we should have won the match – Odisha FC’s Kino Garcia

Odisha FC head coach Kino Garcia feels his team should have won the game given the number of chances they had against Chennaiyin FC in the 93rd match of the ongoing Hero Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco da Gama, Goa on Wednesday.

Rahim Ali scored the opening goal of the match in the second minute to put Chennai in front. Subsequently, Javi Hernandez scored the equalizer for Odisha FC in the 18th minute while Jonathas was able to put his team in front in the 51st minute of the game. However, Nerijus Valskis scored the equalizer as he found the back of the net after 11 matches.

Odisha FC took a total of six shots off target and took as many on target. However, they were able to convert only two chances despite having a plethora of opportunities.

Kino Garcia said in the post-match presentation, “Yeah, I think so. If you see the chances that we had, and how much we struggled to score a goal. We took 25 shots to score a goal. And they easily scored two goals. They scored on the first chance of the match. But we made a good come back, our team pushed we drew the match. We even had chances to score the third but we couldn’t, that’s football”.

Garcia revealed that he told his players to carry on the good work at the half-time break and they were able to get the lead in the 51st minute but Valskis equalized for Marina Machans.

Garcia added, “Not much as we were doing well, told the boys they need to keep doing the same. And then I think in the second half until we scored a second goal where we were okay. And after we scored I think we were a little nervous maybe because of the second goal. Then they pushed the game and draw the game”.

Odisha now has 22 points after 17 matches and there is no doubt that Wednesday’s result is going to hurt their chances of qualifying for the semifinal stages. However, Garcia is not losing hope and wants to keep fighting till the end.

He concluded, “​​Since there are points, we say in Spain, if it’s life then there’s hope. So we still are alive. We will keep fighting for that, of course, we knew is difficult. But also, we are only two points behind the best season of Odisha FC one record that we can pass and just improve the players”.

Odisha FC will next face Bengaluru FC on Monday at the Athletic Stadium, Bambolim.