Wilmar Jordan Gil continued his fine form in the Indian Super League 2024-25, scoring twice in Chennaiyin FC’s 2-2 draw against Odisha FC on Thursday. His quickfire brace took his season tally to eight goals, as Chennaiyin showcased attacking flair but missed out on a victory at home.
Tactical Setup and First-Half Action
Chennaiyin FC Head Coach Owen Coyle fielded an all-Indian backline, welcoming back Ankit Mukherjee from injury, while opting for an aggressive approach up front with Lukas Brambilla, Irfan Yadwad, Connor Shields, Daniel Chima Chukwu, and Wilmar Jordan Gil all starting.
The hosts dominated the first half, creating significant chances. Lukas Brambilla and Jordan Gil went close in the 15th and 30th minutes, respectively. However, it was goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz who kept the visitors at bay with a smart, low save to deny Odisha a goal against the run of play.
Jordan Gil’s Brilliance
Chennaiyin’s persistence paid off early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Connor Shields intercepted a poor pass from Odisha’s Amrinder Singh and squared the ball for Jordan Gil, who calmly tapped in the opener.
The duo struck again just five minutes later, this time from the opposite flank, with Shields setting up Jordan Gil for his second goal of the night, delighting the home crowd.
Chennaiyin came close to extending their lead in the 64th minute when Brambilla’s cross found Jordan Gil, whose header hit the post. Moments later, defender Bikash Yumnam heroically blocked a shot from Diego Mauricio, but it came at the cost of his availability for the remainder of the match.
Odisha’s Late Comeback
Odisha halved the deficit with ten minutes to go, as Dorielton bundled the ball into the net from what appeared to be an offside position. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, the visitors equalized under dramatic circumstances, with Mohammad Nawaz inadvertently deflecting the ball into his net after initially making a brilliant save.
What’s Next?
Despite dominating large portions of the match, Chennaiyin had to settle for a point. The team will now aim to bounce back when they face Mohammedan SC on January 15 in an away fixture.