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Jamshedpur FC got a major boost in their Indian Super League campaign with a memorable victory against Mumbai City FC on Friday. The Red Miners won by a solitary goal in their home at JRD Sports Complex.
Jamshedpur have kept their record straight at home, which they fondly call The Furnace. The Red Miners have not lost a match this season at home.
With this win, Jamshedpur FC reached 23 points from 15 matches, only one point adrift of fourth-placed team NorthEast United FC. This was an important win for them in order keep their fight for the knock-out berth, a feat they narrowly missed last season.
Mumbai City FC, who doesn’t have much to lose from this defeat, would learn valuable lessons. For the first time this season, they have lost two successive matches. A win would have all but secured them a top-four finish.
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Memo scored the only goal of the match, thanks to a howler from Mumbai goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.
A minute’s silence was observed before the match in memory of Emiliano Sala, whose body was found from the wreckage yesterday.
ALSO SEE: ISL Schedule | ISL Results | ISL Points table
Let us look at the talking points of the game:
#5 Jamshedpur changed the game in 15 minutes
For the entire first half, Jamshedpur were very poor in creating chances. Sometimes, it looked like they would settle for another draw, which could’ve hampered their chances in making it to the knock-outs.
To register a win against one of the best sides of the league, Jamshedpur needed to show some urgency and seriousness in their approach. But that was not there in the first half as they lost the ball too many times and never found the right rhythm to get things going.
However, the scenario changed in the second half. Barring the opening minutes, Jamshedpur suddenly sprung into life and started creating positive chances. Mumbai caught by surprise and their players started to commit mistakes.
The period between 65 to 80 minutes changed the complexion of the match. Jamshedpur were attacking relentlessly and waiting for the right opportunity patiently.
That came in the 80th minute when a mistake from Mumbai goalkeeper Amrinder Singh earned them the much-needed win of the campaign.
#4 Machado’s off form made it difficult for Mumbai
So far in this season, Mumbai City FC have witnessed a smooth journey largely because the wonderful hard work that is done on the field by Paulo Machado.
His deft and powerful crosses have been one of the talking points this season. Apart from scoring two goals, he has provided three assists this season.
However, against Jamshedpur, the Portuguese was completely off-colour and couldn’t inflict much damage on the opposition.
Machado got plenty of chances in the first half. But not one of them could inflict damage on the opposition.
Mumbai City got two nice free-kicks from a wonderful position. On any day, they could’ve converted at least one of them into the goal. But Machado wasted both the opportunity.
But instead of crossing the deliveries to his teammates, Machado tried to shot at the target himself and on both times, his shot went well over the bar.
His crosses were so below par on Friday. He took all the corners for his side but deliveries were poor every time.
#3 Jamshedpur defenders once again delivered their best
If there was a player who was more relaxed than anyone, it has to be Jamshedpur goalkeeper Subrata Paul. Apart from one or two occasions, he didn’t have much to do, thanks to the superb defending by Jamshedpur players.
Once again, Tiri showed his class with perfect blocks and clearances. For the entire match, he kept Moudou Sougou quiet, who has been in a prolific form this season.
On the other hand, Paulo Machado too didn’t get many chances to create danger. The defenders also made Rafael Bastos ineffective, who too is having a good season.
The one problem that needs to be solved immediately is the position of Pratik Choudhary. Playing as a central defender, Pratik miscued the ball too many times.
His poor back pass would’ve led to a goal, had Subrata not saved them on the occasion. His rough challenges also earned him a booking in the first half.
#2 Amrinder commits his first notable mistake of the season
Amrinder Singh has been putting all the hard work on the field for so many days. He may be the second choice goalkeeper for the national team, but his performance in the ISL is compared to none. On many occasions, he saved Mumbai City FC single-handedly.
But Friday was an exception. A rare off day for Amrinder, who probably committed his first noteworthy mistake of the campaign. Ultimately, that proved costly as his team lost the match.
The game was heading towards a draw when Jamshedpur got a free-kick from a good position. Sergio Cidoncha’s powerful shot headed straight to Amrinder, who on any day, would push it away. But today, he got calculations wrong.
His punch was not so strong and it fell straight to Memo. The Spaniard used his brain and headed it to the bottom corner. A bamboozled Amrinder only had to see the ball going into the net, much to the disbelief of others.
A few minutes later, he almost conceded another one. While clearing a forward pass, he was caught wrong-footed by Jerry Mahwmingthanga. Luckily, the goalkeeper recovered soon to avert the danger.
#1 Final delivery was poor for Jamshedpur
The Red Miners may have kept their home record straight at the Furnace, but they will have to go to the drawing board soon after the Mumbai City match to solve some pertinent issues.
Jamshedpur probably have the best wingers in Indian football. They have plenty of options to use. Yet, their final delivery is very poor, which is hurting them throughout the season.
Farukh Choudhary, who is getting chances regularly in the first XI, was playing as a right winger in the first half. He made a couple of good runs avoiding his marker.
But every time, his crosses were cleared by Mumbai City FC without much problem. Pablo Morgado was also not very effective in delivering crosses.
In order to get more wins, Jamshedpur need to solve this problem at the earliest. In tough games, chances don’t come very often.
And if they waste opportunities as they did against Mumbai City, it would be tough for them to go further.
