Despite having conjured many opportunities to score, Mumbai City FC suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Jamshedpur FC at the Mumbai Football Arena. The home team resurrected itself after an own-goal from Sanju Pradhan via a goal from Everton Santos in the 79th minute; however, Bikash Jairu scored five minutes later to shatter all hopes.
The victory helped Jamshedpur occupy fourth place in the standings, after six wins in 14 matches. Mumbai, on the other hand, continues to languish in the sixth position after its third defeat in a row at home.
The narrative may have been different, though, if its striker Balwant Singh had capitalised on his chances. Balwant got three clear opportunities in the second half. Two snap headers flew wide, leaving the striker clutching his hair in desperation, and another was collected by goal-keeper Subrata Paul. Achille Emana set up another chance via a swivel past his markers and provided a pass to Balwant to bring Thiago Santos into action at the left post, but Subrata got in the way. Emana ran tirelessly and slipped superb passes, but in vain.
The initial opportunities were created by Jamshedpur’s duo of Farukh Choudhary and Izu Azuka, both of whom took shots on target. Custodian Amrinder Singh saved the first, the next went wide.
Jamshedpur claimed its lead with help of the home team’s defenders. Choudhary had created panic, weaving his way in and taking a left-footed shot which struck a retreating defender’s foot and lobbed up. Defender Sanju Pradhan, rushing back to clear the ball lobbing goalwards found his scooped effort ending up inside the net.
Jamshedpur faced a threat when Balwant charged down the left flank. Subrata stepped back and allowed his defender to deal with it, at the expense of a corner kick. Thiago Santos skipped past a tackle and charged forward; Souvik Chakrabarti stepped in to halt the forward in an indiscreet way, earning a yellow card.
The second-half kept the visitor’s one-goal advantage.
Brazilian defender Gerson Viera wore the captain’s armband for the home team, in the absence of skipper Luican Goian named on the bench. Marcio Rosario played in the middle of the defence.
Mumbai next plays 10 days later, again at home, against FC Pune City.
- Jamshedpur FC 2 (Sanju Pradhan self-goal 37, Bikash Jairu 84) bt Mumbai City FC 1 (Everton Santos 79).
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