ISL 5: Jamshedpur FC kick off their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Mumbai City FC

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Mumbai City FC locked horns with Jamshedpur FC in the Mumbai Football Arena on matchday 4 of Hero ISL 5. Jamshedpur FC lined themselves in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Sumeet Passi being the lone man up front. Whereas Mumbai City FC headed into the game with a 4-3-3 formation as Bipin Singh, Sanju Pradhan, and Modou Sougou were tasked with scoring goals.

Jamshedpur FC players celebrate after taking the lead
Jamshedpur FC players celebrate after taking the lead

Jamshedpur FC had begun the game on a bright note as Jerry Mawihmingthanga’s crosses from the left wing spelled trouble for the home side. However, the away side fumbled in the attacking third. Then, finally, at the 28th minute, Mario Arques gave Jamshedpur FC the lead courtesy of a brilliant cross from Carlos Cuervo through the right wing. The goalscorer had orchestrated the attack as he gave a brilliant pass to Jerry. The Mumbai City defenders did a good job to see the danger away from the 21-year-old’s cross, but it bobbled towards Carlos on the far right wing. Mario Arques cushioned in a perfect header from the Spaniard’s cross albeit the narrow-angle.

Mumbai City FC could have equalized at the 38th-minute when Modou Sougou pressurized Raju Gaikwad and won the ball. However, Tiri lodged in a last-second tackle and set the ball aside for a corner kick. Jamshedpur FC could have doubled the lead in the 45th minute when Jerry’s spirited run into the box was tackled away by MCFC captain Goian.

In contrast to the tepid pace of the first half, both the sides started frenetically as the second half had begun. Tiri flew in a low-header at the far post in the 48th-minute only for Goian to make a goal-line clearance. At the 51st minute, Bastos had found himself one-on-one with Subhasish courtesy of a brilliant through ball from Sanju Pradhan, but the goalkeeper did well enough to thwart away the danger. Subhasish was again called into the action eight minutes later when he had to tip off Sougou’s header from a close range.

Jamshedpur found themselves in a 4-on-3 situation at the 61st minute from a counter attack, but Cidoncha mistimed his run and found himself in an offside position. Three minutes later, Jerry’s turn had left Subhashish bamboozled, and his lovely pass was met out by Calvo. The Spaniard lined it up brilliantly for Sumeet Passi who couldn’t control the pace of the pass and shot it above the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

At the 77th-minute, it looked as if Mohammed Rafique had equalized for Mumbai City FC when the India international guided the ball in the back of the net. However, the assistant referee had raised his flag, and the replays proved that he was spot on. It had been deja vu for the Mumbai City FC at the 85th-minute when Subhasish’s free-kick rattled the crossbar. Sougou latched onto the rebound and shot the ball into the goal. However, the assistant referee signaled offside as he had run just a second ahead.

Mumbai City FC pressed hard for an equalizer, but it was Jamshedpur FC who had put the final nail in the coffin. At the 95th-minute, the visitors caught the home side off-guard in the counter, and substitute Pablo Morgado finished it off despite Amrinder getting a shoulder to it.

Jamshedpur FC would look to continue their winning run as they take on Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on 7th of October. Mumbai City FC, meanwhile, would like to forget their awful start to the campaign as they take on Kerala Blasters on the 5th of October.

Star players for Jamshedpur FC: Tiri, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Carlos Cuervo

Star players for Mumbai City FC: Lucian Goian, Modou Sougou, Souvik Chakraborty