ISL: Sanchez penalty rescues point for Bengaluru in battle against Odisha FC

Bengaluru FC and Odisha FC shared the spoils in a gripping Indian Super League encounter that ended 1-1 at the Kanteerava Stadium on Monday.
Despite injuries to Ashique Kuruniyan and Nikhil Poojary, coach Pep Muñoz’s reshuffled lineup dominated early proceedings. The Blues controlled over 80% possession in the opening stages, with Braian Sanchez and Sivasakthi Narayanan both missing promising chances. Odisha, however, grew into the game through counterattacks, forcing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into a series of crucial saves. The visitors capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 34th minute when Naorem Roshan Singh’s errant throw-in gifted Rahim Ali the opportunity to fire Odisha ahead against the run of play.
Bengaluru responded strongly after halftime. The introduction of Soham Varshneya injected fresh energy, and his driving run into the box earned a penalty within minutes. Sanchez stepped up and converted calmly to level the score. The equaliser sparked relentless pressure from the hosts, but fortune deserted them as the woodwork twice denied efforts from Sivasakthi and Rahul Bheke.
Odisha’s defence, marshalled with resilience, absorbed wave after wave of Bengaluru attacks. Gurpreet remained busy at the other end, producing a vital save to deny Kartik from close range. In the closing stages, Kelvin, Sanchez, and Roshan all tested Odisha’s backline, but the visitors held firm to secure a hard-fought point.
The result reflected Bengaluru’s dominance in possession and chances, but Odisha’s opportunism and defensive grit ensured the contest ended level. Sanchez’s penalty proved decisive in rescuing a point for the Blues, while Rahim Ali’s strike highlighted Odisha’s ability to punish mistakes.