Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera expressed his delight as the Kalinga Warriors staged a remarkable second-half comeback to secure a 3-1 win over Hyderabad FC at home on Friday.

Hyderabad FC took the lead in the first half through Stefan Sapic, but Lobera’s men came out with renewed determination after the break. Within five minutes, they turned the game around with goals from Mourtada Fall and Hugo Boumous, and Rahim Ali sealed the victory with a third in the 70th minute.

Match Report: Odisha FC 3-1 Hyderabad FC

With this triumph, Odisha FC remain in seventh place in the Indian Super League (ISL) standings, still in the hunt for a playoff spot, just two points behind Mumbai City FC, though they have played one match more.

“I am very happy with the reaction of the team after the first half. I think at the start of the second half, the team showed character, showed a collective spirit, and finally, we came back in a not-easy situation because I think at the beginning of the game we played well. But after conceding one goal, it was difficult, it was painful for the team, but the reaction was amazing,” Lobera said at the post-match press conference.

“In the second half we played very well and finally we got three very important points,” he added.

With their three goals tonight, Odisha FC have now scored 41 goals this season, the highest by any team. Their first goal from a set-piece also brought their tally of goals from dead-ball situations to 18, just one behind Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who have scored 19 from set-pieces.

However, Lobera urged his players to be more clinical in front of goal to ensure more comfortable wins.

“We need to be more clinical because finally we are scoring goals, scoring three goals is not easy, but we had more chances to score goals and maybe manage the game in a different way,” said the Spaniard.

Lobera acknowledged the team's overall effort and reinforced the significance of teamwork, emphasizing that it would be key to getting through difficult moments and achieving success.

“We are working as a team, we are working as a family on the pitch. In difficult moments, we are managing together these kinds of situations and if you want to win trophies, finally you need to have this spirit. It's not enough having very good individual players, we need to build the team,” he commented.

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