The Kalinga Stadium held its breath in the 95th minute. Alaaeddine Ajaraie stepped up to the spot after Stephen Eze’s clumsy outstretched hand in the box. The Moroccan striker beat goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwary, but the right post swatted the ball away. Odisha FC escaped with a 0-0 draw, a point that felt like a victory for the underdogs.
This was a tactical chess match from the first whistle. Odisha coach TS Purushothaman locked down with three centre-backs—Jeremy Zohminghlua, Eze, and Thoiba Singh Moirangthem—crammed into the six-yard box. It was a defensive wall designed to suffocate Juan Pedro Benali’s quick transitions. For 90 minutes, it worked. The Highlanders, led by Jithin MS and Nikola Ninkovic, probed the edges but couldn’t find the killer finish.
Tiwary was a giant on the night. The young custodian parried Ninkovic’s early effort in the third minute and denied Antonio Moyano in the 45th minute when the Spaniard had only the goalkeeper to beat. Meanwhile, Ajaraie, playing more centrally than usual, nutmegged defenders in the 23rd and 28th minutes but lacked the final touch. The midfield saw physical battles, with Pramveer Singh clashing with Odisha skipper Lalthathanga Khawlhring, but no one could break the deadlock.
The stakes shift now. NEUFC sits top of the table with seven points from three matches, extending their unbeaten run. Odisha, however, walked away with their first point of the season, proving their defensive shape is no longer a liability. The Juggernauts have shown they can survive pressure, but the missed penalty will haunt Ajaraie as the season progresses.
Both teams return to action next week, where NEUFC will look to convert their table position into more wins.