ISL: Jamshedpur makes short work of ATK

A Trindade Goncalves penalty sufficed as Jamshedpur FC defeated defending champion ATK 1-0 in the Indian Super League on Sunday.

Jamshedpur's Trindade Goncalves celebrates after scoring against ATK on Sunday.

Jamshedpur FC returned to winning ways by defeating defending champion ATK courtesy of a second half penalty, in the latter’s home here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. Trindade Goncalves found the goal from the spot to give the visitor the full quota of points. The first half turned a tame affair with Jamshedpur trying some shots initially while the host made some attempts towards the end of the action. Jamshedpur had the first opportunity in the 12th minute when Trindade had a go from outside the box but the attempt narrowly missed the target.

MATCH CENTRE

The visiting side once again came close at the half hour mark when forward Izu Azuka cut inside the ATK box from the left but his attempt flashed wide.

The host had its first good chance in the 40th minute when Martin Patterson attempted a direct shot from David Cotterill's corner but the ball went straight to the JFC custodian Subrata Paul. Next it was Robin Singh for ATK but the forward failed to connect his header well when Jayesh Rane had located him unmarked on the opposition goalmouth.

Jamshedpur, which had lost its previous outing against FC Pune City,  doubled the initiative after the change of ends as the host somehow lost the momentum it had been gaining towards the end of the first half. The visitor had at least two chances to secure the lead but failed to convert as its key man in the attack Trindade could not produce the desired finish.

The closest it came to finding a goal was in the 56th minute when Azuka curled a cross inside the box but Trindade failed to convert a header from a handshaking distance. The goal finally materialised in the 66th minute off a penalty, when Trindade found the net from the spot, ending the sequence of misses. This happened after the Brazilian was tripped inside own box by the ATK midfielder Hitesh Sharma.

The win takes Jamshedpur to the fifth spot on the ISL table while ATK remains in the eighth spot.