MATCH FACTS
FULL-TIME: Jamshedpur FC 1-0 Mumbai City FC
Jamshedpur FC: 80′ Memo (Header)
MATCH REPORT
Missing key players, Jamshedpur FC eked out a win against Mumbai City FC in a tepid encounter at The Furnace.
Mumbai City were the aggressors in the first half and had a couple of chances early on. A ball into the box from Rafael Bastos to Machado saw him shoot off target. Jamshedpur’s Pratik Chowdhary played a weak backpass to the keeper, but Subrata made up enough ground to deny Modou Sougou.
But they faded as the game went on. Mumbai started without Arnold Issoko and played Bipin Singh in his stead. Arnold is among the league’s Top Creators (xG) and his pace and strength is what the Islanders missed on the counter. Playing on the counter is the usual Mumbai style and lacking a vital cog to effect that played into Jamshedpur’s hands.
This meant Jamshedpur gradually took charge of the game and kept most of the possession going into the second half. However, they were without Tim Cahill, Michael Soosairaj and Carlos Calvo who were not available for selection tonight as well. And the Red Miners sorely missed them as they lacked quality in the final third and failed to finish their chances.
They did look threatening from set-pieces tonight. And eventually, in the 80th minute, their persistence paid off from a free kick delivery by the Spanish midfielder Sergio Cidoncha.
The delivery from the right flank saw the Mumbai keeper punch the ball instead of probably catching it. The weak attempt at clearance meant the Jamshedpur midfielder Memo was able to place a looping header into the net with Amrinder caught off-position.
After going down a goal, Mumbai couldn’t do much to change the status quo as the game ended with Jamshedpur picking up a win at home.
A quick glance at the Expected Goals graph for tonight showcases how little both the teams created (Team xG). Mumbai did not have a shot on target and they find themselves under a bit of pressure after losing against FC Goa last week.
Jamshedpur on the other hand will be buoyed to do a double over Mumbai City having beat them 2-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. They have bounced back from a defeat against ATK in their previous game and are back in the play-off mix.
STARTING XI
Jamshedpur FC: 63′ S. Passi (B. Jairu); 79′ M. Rahman (Pratik Chowdhary); 87′ J. Mawhmingthanga (Pablo Morgado).
Mumbai City FC: 68′ Sanju Pradhan (Bipin Singh); 81′ M. Mirabaje (Rafael Bastos); 85′ M. Rafique (Vignesh Dakshinamurthy).
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