FC Goa dominated proceedings for the second game running, but they ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline, yet again. Nerijus Valskis scored twice for Jamshedpur FC as they completed a 3-1 win over the Gaurs.
Juan Ferrando’s men were territorially dominant for the second game running, but – unable to make their advantage count – they lost yet again. Jamshedpur, with only 24 per cent of the ball, smashed and grabbed their way to a memorable win and climbed to the top of the Indian Super League table, albeit with only two games played.
Dheeraj Singh made a couple of superb stops in the first half to justify his selection in the AFC Champions League Team of the Season. The youngster denied Nerijus Valskis in the opening minutes of the game from a tight angle and made a sensational stop from Seiminlen Doungel towards the end of the half.
Ironically, it was Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, whose error Jamshedpur capitalized upon to score the opening goal of the game. The custodian’s poor clearance was intercepted by Seiminlen Doungel, and he played a pass into the channel for Greg Stewart. The Scotsman flicked the ball onto his strike partner Valskis, and the latter carefully curled a low shot past Singh.
Jamshedpur took the lead in the 51st minute, and ten minutes later, they were two up. Stewart’s set-piece was headed past Singh by Valskis on the turn, and there was daylight between Jamshedpur and their opponents.
The Red Miners went further ahead in the 80th minute when substitute Jordan Murray scored with his first touch; the Australian striker got on the end of a Valskis flick and poked the ball past Singh in goal.
Goa’s minor resurgence came far too late in the game. First, Edu Bedia hit the crossbar with a stunning, acrobatic kick from inside the Jamshedpur box before Airam Cabrera scored from a similar position. Nonetheless, Cabrera’s goal proved to be nothing more than a consolation in the end for a Goa side now rooted to the bottom of the league table.
