Arques, Morgado give Cesar Ferrando winning start

Tim Cahill-less Jamshedpur FC, which had trouble scoring goals for much of last season, produced a professional performance to become the third team to win its opening match this ISL season.

Jamshedpur FC players celebrate Mario Arques's strike, which fired the visitor into the lead.

Two goals, once in each half by Mario Arques and substitute Pablo Morgado helped the visitor get off to a winning start in to its second season in ISL, beating Mumbai City FC 2-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Tuesday. The home team twice had the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out for off-side on both occasions.

Arques, pulling strings in the midfield, relayed a crossfield pass to fellow Spaniard Carlos Calvo whose trap, turn and relay into the goalmouth found his teammate popping up to head home from an acute angle. Morgado squeezed the ball in off Amrinder’s shoulder to assure Jamshedpur of three points with a second half stoppage-time goal. Jerry Mawhmingthanga sparkled on the right wing for the visitor.

As it happened

Jerry’s pace with the ball and ability to hit crosses on the run made Jamshedpur particularly threatening from its right-hand-side. He twisted free after a tackle and set off on a run down the wing. Mumbai's defence was tested again when a cross by Mizo from near the corner flag floated within range for Arques, who attempted an ambitious overhead kick.

 

The home team woke up from early slumber and built momentum towards the end of the first half, albeit it couldn't respond to Arques' 27th-minute strike. Shouvik Chakravarti’s pass fell far away from Subhasish Bose. Paulo Machado picked out Lucian Goian from a corner, the Romanian leapt high but headed over. 

Two back-to-back corners put Mumbai's defensive line-up in trouble. Tiri directed a header off the first from Carlos Calvo towards goal, forcing Goian to go with his right foot, swinging the leg on the goalline and connecting with the outstep.

 

Subhashish rescued Jamshedpur twice, first by rushing out to close down Raphael Bastos and followed it up with a timely leap to tip over a header by Modou Sougou. Mumbai City fans roared when a header by Mohammad Rafique went in, but the offside flag was up. This was repeated, this time a Sougou's header rebounding in off the post but ruled off-side. Subhasish Bose set up the chance for his team-mate from Senegal with a  stunning direct free-kick, curling the ball away from the wall towards the right corner.