Indian Super League (ISL) side Odisha FC are set to face Central Coast Mariners FC in the AFC Cup Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.

The Kalinga Warriors will take on the Mariners from Australia over the two-legged semi-finals, with the first leg being an away fixture on March 7, while they will welcome the opponents at the Kalinga Stadium for the second leg on March 14.

Odisha FC learned about their opponent on Thursday after the Central Coast Mariners defeated familiar foes Macarthur FC in the ASEAN zone semi-finals.

The game went into extra time after ending 1-1 in regulation time, with both sides scoring late goals. It was heading for a penalty shootout after the teams scored one each again in extra time, but Ronald Barcellos found the net in the 120th minute, making it 3-2 and propelling his side through to the next round in the debut campaign in the AFC Cup.

The Mariners are two-time A-League Championship winners and are currently second in the A-League, trailing five points behind Wellington Phoenix FC.

The Kalinga Warriors are also in fine form in the league as well as in cup competitions. Playing in their debut continental competition, they showcased their resilience and hard work to overcome fellow Indian Super League (ISL) side Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings, and the Maldives’ Maziya S&RC in the group stage to come out on top in the South Asia Zone in the AFC Cup 2023-24.

Under the guidance of Sergio Lobera, Odisha FC have undergone continuous growth, having suffered just one defeat in their last 19 matches across all competitions. They recently clinched the Runners-Up position in the Kalinga Super Cup last month and currently lead the ISL standings with an impressive 31 points from 15 matches.

Lobera's men are now set to showcase their prowess against Central Coast Mariners in the upcoming two-legged semi-finals, with the ultimate goal of securing a spot in the Inter-zone play-off final.