A goal in each half helped Jamshedpur FC beat ATK Mohun Bagan and maintain their unbeaten streak at the start of the season to move to second in the table – a point behind Mumbai City FC. While ATKMB managed to grab a late goal, the latest defeat means that they have lost two out of two games.
Both sides created half-chances in the early phases of the game, but neither set of attackers was able to produce a tangible outcome. The first clear opportunity of the match came in the 34th minute when Nerijus Valskis spun his marker at the halfway line before threading the ball to Greg Stewart – whose curled shot from just outside the box was saved by Amrinder Singh.
Moments later, Jamshedpur scored the opening goal; Jitendra Singh burst forwards after a tidy exchange with Stewart, rode a couple of challenges, and played in Doungel for the finish from close range. ATKMB almost responded in kind in the 42nd minute – five minutes after their concession – when Joni Kauko lifted the ball over the Jamshedpur defence for Roy Krishna. The striker’s effort squirmed through Rehenesh TP in goal but was cleared off the line by Eli Sabia.
The two teams continued to exchange blows, but the game’s next significant moment came in the 80th minute when Rehenesh parried away a venomous shot from David Williams. Four minutes later, Jamshedpur doubled their lead, with their custodian playing a huge part in the goal.
Rehenesh’s big punt forward was flicked on by Valskis and collected by Boris Singh Thangjam. The youngster rolled the ball to Alex Lima, who took a touch before firing it into the bottom corner from distance.
ATKMB pulled a goal back in the 88th minute under controversial circumstances. Rehenesh’s parry from a cross hit Ashutosh Mehta and was touched by Pritam Kotal – who was a yard offside – over the line. Kauko nearly made it two in two minutes for ATK, but his shot landed on the wrong side of the post, much to the delight of the opposition.
