Matthew Mills nodded in the match-winner during the closing minutes of the match to give FC Pune City a much-needed 2-1 win - its first of the Indian Super League 2018 season, as Jamshedpur FC slumped to its first defeat of the season. The win means Pune City moves up from the bottom of the table.
Playing for the first time after former captain Emilano Alfaro was loaned out (to ATK), FC Pune City created numerous chances in an attacking display, taking an early lead through a Diego Carlos stunner. But Sumeet Passi soon equalized for Jamshedpur FC, which opted for a controlled game using numbers in midfield.
Two stunning goals lit up a pulsating first half. Pune's Brazilian striker Diego Carlos, back after serving an extended suspension, carried the ball from almost the half-line and slotted it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, throwing Jamshedpur's defenders off-balance.
From a setpiece executed to perfection, Sumeet Passi equalized in the 10th minute and silenced the home crowd. Carlos Calvo pulled some tricks from under his sleeve to wrongfoot the defenders and float a cross into the box where Passi was waiting and easily headed home.
Goalkeepers were tested at both ends. Marcelinho’s powerful left-footed attempt at target from the edge of the box forced Jamshedpur's Subrata Paul into a big diving save. Kamaljit Singh at the other end was forced to stretched out with his right to keep out a superb first-time left-footer from Passi, who latched onto a long ball. Kamljit had a stroke of luck when Ashique Kuruniyan long-range strike struck the crossbar.
Iain Hume remained on the bench in the first half, as the home team opted to give Indian strikers Ashique and Robin the chance, foraging for goals in tandem with Marcelinho. The former came on as substitute for Robin in the second half. Passi played as the lone striker for the visitors, five midfielders trying to set up chances for the India inteernational. Michael Soosairaj was introduced in the closing stages by JFC.
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