Jamshedpur FC beat Hyderabad FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand on Monday, October 21. Goals from Rei Tachikawa and Jordan Murray gave the hosts all three points, while Cy Goddard pulled one back for the Nawabs.
Jamshedpur often tested Hyderabad’s resilience, and although the former gave it everything they had, they could not overcome their opponents. The Red Miners showcased why they have been nigh on unbeatable at home this season with excellent game management and astute tactics from coach Khalid Jamil.
Tachikawa gave Jamshedpur the lead in the 29th minute when he pounced upon a stray ball coming in from Imran Khan that hit the post and landed kindly at his feet. With Hyderabad goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh and the other defenders seemingly thinking the ball was going out, Tachikawa pounced in and tapped it into the empty net.
In the 44th minute, Jamshedpur’s lead was doubled by Jordan Murray after Mohammed Sanan found him at the edge of Hyderabad’s box with a beautiful one-time pass. The Australian then dinked the ball over the rushing Arshdeep even as center-back Stefan Sapic, who was tracking back, looked on in horror.
Cy Goddard scored the lone goal for Hyderabad
Goddard pulled one back for Hyderabad soon into the second half (50th minute) after a good long throw from Leander D’Cunha was misread by Pratik Chaudhari. The latter ducked underneath the ball bounce, expecting his fellow defenders to parry it away. Instead, it landed kindly on Hyderabad’s new Japanese signing.
Goddard did not waste any time in pulling the trigger and putting the ball at the back of the net. Hyderabad’s bench, led by head coach Thangboi Singto, heaved a sigh of relief even as an air of expectation passed through their ranks. No further goals, however, materialized in the game despite both teams trying their best.
Hyderabad was the more dominant side of the two on offer in this game, keeping 58 percent of the possession and taking eighteen shots, out of which eight were on target. In fact, they started the game so well, passing the ball through the Jamshedpur lines with ease, that they were taken aback when their hosts scored first.
Wingers Abdul Rabeeh and Ramhlunchhunga regularly brought Center-forward Allan Paulista into the game. On the other hand, Goddard was highly influential with his artistic crosses and balls into the final third, bypassing Jamshedpur’s defenders on more than one occasion on the overlap.
The Red Miners, however, were served well by their center-back Stephen Eze, who marshaled his defenders and did not give Hyderabad too many opportunities to win balls in the air. Although goalkeeper Albino Gomes – formerly of Sreenidi Deccan in Hyderabad – was tested, he did not falter.
Jamshedpur move up to the 2nd position of the league table with this win, while Hyderabad keep languishing in the 12th spot with just one point to their name. Both teams play on the road next, with Jamshedpur traveling to Guwahati to take on NorthEast United FC and Hyderabad visiting neighboring Kolkata to play against newly promoted Mohammedan SC.
Follow IFTWC for more updates on Indian Football.
