Chennaiyin FC earned their first point of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026 season with a 1-1 draw against Odisha FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Elsinho handed the visitors the lead in first-half stoppage time, before Odisha FC captain Carlos Delgado equalised in the second half to ensure both teams shared the spoils.
Head coach Clifford Miranda made two changes to the Chennaiyin starting XI, bringing in Farukh Choudhary and Maheson Singh. Odisha FC head coach TG Purushottaman named an unchanged side.
The opening exchanges were measured, with both teams probing cautiously. Odisha created the first clear opportunity in the 14th minute when Isak Ralte broke down the left, but his effort drifted wide. Chennaiyin responded through Iñigo Martín, whose attempt from inside the box was blocked in the 25th minute.
Chennaiyin continued to press, with Pritam Kotal heading wide from a corner and Martín firing over from close range. Odisha threatened late in the half, but Rahim Ali’s long-range effort failed to test the goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came in the second minute of added time. Farukh delivered a precise inswinging corner from the left, and Elsinho rose unmarked to power a header past the goalkeeper, giving Chennaiyin a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Odisha responded immediately after the restart. Rahul KP forced an acrobatic save from Mohammad Nawaz, while subsequent attempts were kept out as the hosts searched for an equaliser.
The leveller arrived in the 68th minute from a set-piece. Lalthathanga Khawlhring delivered a deep ball into the area, and Delgado rose above the defence to guide his header into the net and make it 1-1.
Chennaiyin pushed for a winner, with substitute Imran Khan firing over and Martín dragging a close-range effort wide. Odisha remained organised at the back, with Delgado marshalling the defence effectively.
Both sides had half-chances in the closing stages, but neither could find a decisive breakthrough. The result leaves Odisha provisionally ninth with two points, while Chennaiyin move to eleventh with their first point of the campaign.
Chennaiyin will next face Kerala Blasters on March 7 as they look to build momentum.
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