The encounter began with an explosive start, as Punjab FC took the lead within the opening minute. Muhammed Uvais whipped a precise cross into the penalty area, which
A Tense Battle Until The Final Whistle
The remainder of the first half saw both sides trade opportunities. Alfred Planas forced a save from Odisha goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari, while Mahmoud Eid and Stephen Eze both threatened for their respective sides before the interval. The intensity remained high after the break, with Giorgi Aburjania narrowly missing the target for the visitors shortly after the restart.
As the second half progressed, Punjab FC began to exert more pressure. Planas, Diego Raposo, and Bijoy Varghese all came close to restoring the lead, but were repeatedly thwarted by the Odisha defense and goalkeeper Tiwari. Odisha FC looked to shift the momentum by introducing fresh legs in the 64th minute, with Éverton Nascimento and Lalrinfela Khiangte entering the fray. The visitors created several chances through set-pieces, including headers from Rahim Ali and Stephen Eze, while Punjab goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh remained alert to deny an effort from Mahmoud Eid.
With the match deep into the five minutes of added time, the game opened up significantly. Odisha FC pushed for a late winner, but Arshdeep Singh made a crucial save to deny Nihal Sudheesh. Punjab FC immediately launched a counter-attack, with Vishal Yadav finding Messi Bouli inside the box. The forward kept his composure to slot home a left-footed finish in the 95th minute, securing a hard-fought opening win for the Shers.
