Jamshedpur FC take down Dynamos 3-2 in ISL IV clash
JAMSHEDPUR: Jamshedpur FC’S resolve deserves to be praised as they came back from being two goals down to register a 3-2 win against Delhi Dynamos at the JRD Complex, Jamshedpur on Sunday evening. The win takes the home side to the fifth position on the ISL table.
Kalu Uche scored a couple of goals (20th and 22nd) before Tiri (29th), Raju Yumnam (54th) and Trindade Goncalves (86th) found the back of the net to help Jamshedpur register their second win on home soil. Both Steve Coppell and Miguel Angel Portugal fielded an unchanged XI. Coppell’s team started the game in a 4-4-2 formation with Ashim Biswas partnering Izu Azuka upfront. For Delhi, Lallianzuala Chhangte operated just behind the striker Kalu Uche with Nandhakumar Sekar and Romeo Fernandes being on the left and right flank respectively.
It was an end-to-end encounter from the very beginning of the match with both teams looking to seize the initiative. Ashim came close to scoring the opening goal in the fourth minute from a Priori pass however, Arnab Das Sharma came out of his line to avert the danger. It took Delhi 19 minutes to break the deadlock when captain Kalu Uche headed in a Nandhakumar Sekar cross. Jeroen Lumu ran down the mid- dle and fed Nandhakumar on the left flank who curled in cross inside the box. An unmarked Uche converted a simple header to hand his team the lead.
The skipper doubled his tally and his team’s lead two minutes later by scoring an identical goal. This time it was Lallianzuala Chhangte who initiated the move and forwarded a through ball for Nandha on the left flank. The young winger once again found Uche with a pinpoint cross.
Jamshedpur went all guns blazing after conceding two goals in quick succession. The home side pulled one back in the 29th minute thanks to a header from Tiri as he outjumped Kotal from a corner.
Chhangte got the best chance of the first half to increase Delhi’s lead in the 34th minute when he found himself one-on-one with Subrata Paul inside the Jamshedpur penalty box. Unfortunately, the youngster blasted the ball over the crossbar. From a corner, Raju Yumnam scored the equaliser. Jerry curled the corner which was half-heartedly cleared by the Delhi defence. Raju picked up the pieces and his curling effort went straight into the top corner of the net. Coppell made two changes in the 67th minute to add more firepower in the attacking third. He introduced Trindade Goncalves in place of Ashim Biswas and Anas Edathodika for Andre Bikey.
The home side were unlucky not to win a penalty in the 74th minute when Vinit Rai handled the ball inside the box after Trindade’s shot hit the Delhi midfielder’s arm. Trindade scored the winning goal in the 86th minute. VASCO: A stern test awaits young Indian Arrows when they take on a resurgent Churchill Brothers in a Hero I-league match, here on Monday.
Churchill Brothers, who are lying at second-last spot in the 10-team event, made a host of changes in the new year romping in four foreigners in a bid to rekindle their struggling form.
And Churchill now look a settled side as they remained unbeaten in their last three matches but still remained three points below Indian Arrows, who are placed seventh.
A win on Monday will ensure Churchill remain above relegation zone and also above Indian Arrows in the seventh place.
Osagie Monday, who has scored a goal in their win against Shillong Lajong, has been a pillar in the heart of the Churchill defence. New comer Dawda Ceesay along with Mechac Koffi have combined well upfront. But playmaker Kalu Ogba is doubtful after he limped off in the first half against Shillong Lajong.
Kalu has been the fulcrum of the team attack and coach Alfred Fernandes hopes that he gets fit in time.
Jovel Martins is the other player who has not fully recovered and the Churchill coach does not want to field him on Monday.
“We are going into Monday’s match with a lot of confidence after our two consecutive win and a draw in the last three matches we have played. Indian Arrows is a very good team and are very good in counter attack. So we can’t be complacent,” said Fernandes.
Indian Arrows coach Luis Norton de Matos said all the games in the tournament are tough for his young side.
“We come into this match on the back of two defeats, while Churchill Brothers have won two matches and have lot of confidence going into Monday’s match. They have changed a lot of players and it has been good for them. They know if they beat us on Monday they will be on same points with us and it is going to be a big challenge for us to beat them,” said de Matos. “Our aim is to get as much experience from this tournament. The boys are playing well and I am happy the way they are progressing. I am not worried about the results. We have lost matches mainly due to individual mistakes,” he added.