Jamshedpur FC beat Hyderabad FC 3-1 at the JRD Tata Sports Complex for a second straight win to begin its season. Goals from Farukh Choudhary, Aniket Jadhav and Sergio Castel secured all three points for the home side, which overcame a brief period of dominance from Hyderabad FC after Marcelo Pereira equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Sportstar looks at the major talking points from Jamshedpur's win.
Farukh Choudhary makes the difference
With a goal and an assist, Farukh proved to be difference-maker for Jamshedpur on a night the home side dominated but failed to take its chances until after the hour-mark.
Farukh was rewarded for his predatory instincts with the goal that opened his account for the season and gave Jamshedpur the lead. His assist came after he had switched flanks after Aniket's substitution and his delivery was spot on for the Kolhapur forward to take a touch, pick his spot and beat Kamaljit Singh in the Hyderabad goal with a rising effort.
Apart from the goal and assist, Farukh had the better of Hyderabad full-back Sahil Panwar and had goal-scoring chances before he converted one.
Hyderabad's defence makes life easier for Jamshedpur
Central defenders Matthew Kilgallon and Gurtej Singh were at fault for Castel's goal that gave Jamshedpur a two-goal cushion after Aniket had restored its lead. It was a long ball from Memo Moura that caused a bit of hesitation in the Hyderabad defence and Castel took advantage with his movement and calm head to apply a low finish and put Jamshedpur 3-1 up.
Hyderabad's slack defending was also to blame for Aniket's 62nd-minute strike. He was able to take a touch inside the box before unleashing a powerful hit that gave Kamaljit no chance.
After conceding an aggregate of eight goals in two matches, Hyderabad needs its defence to come good to turn around its poor start to the season.
Marcelinho's substitution nullifies Hyderabad's attacking threat
Marcelinho's substitution in the 66th minute, with Hyderabad trailing 2-1, was hard to explain. He had equalised for the away side on the stroke of half-time and with his dual threat as a goal-scorer and creator, Hyderabad needed him to stay on the pitch to fashion a comeback for the second time on the night. Gani Ahmed replaced him and Hyderabad struggled to create a chance of note thereafter.
Jamshedpur formidable
These are early days in the sixth season of the Indian Super League, but Jamshedpur has shown signs of being a top-four contender. In its first match, it beat the rechristened Odisha FC 2-1 despite playing more than 50 minutes with 10 men. Against Hyderabad, Jamshedpur played a complete match and had it been more clinical, the scoreline will have been more emphatic.
Its off-the-ball pressure strangled Hyderabad, whose only goal came from Marcelinho's individual brilliance, and when in possession, Piti and Memo Moura were particularly impressive with their passing, carving open the Hyderabad defence on numerous occasions.
The early signs are that Jamshedpur has the ammunition and defensive solidity to go the distance this season.
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