Reigning champions Mumbai City FC conceded three second half goals, after a barren first one against Jamshedpur FC in the run of play to succumbed to their fourth loss this season and third their last six home in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) on Sunday night.

 Admirably, Mohammed Sanan K (64’), Jordan Murray (86’), and Javi Hernandez (90+6’) converted all of their first attempt that they took on target into goals. The Red Miners in the process maintained their supremacy by registering their second league double (having won the reverse fixture 3-2 on September 21, 2024) over the Islanders in the ISL, previously having done so in 2018-19 and continue to occupy the third place with 27 points from 14 games. Mumbai City FC on 23 points from 15 games are on the other hand placed sixth.

Earlier the visitors dominated possession in the opening minutes of the first-half and were dictating the tempo of the game with 10 men in the rival half. The first attempt of the night came from Mumbai City FC in the 7th minute off a corner kick. The ball landed into the box in no man’s land as Thaer Krouma attempted to find the top right corner but unfortunately for the Syrian centre-back, the ball almost kissed the crossbar and went over the post.

After a tightly contested first-half, Mumbai City FC started attacking aggressively across both flanks looking for the opening goal. In the 48th minute, captain Lallianzuala Chhangte made a darting run down the left flank and attempted a cross which struck the side netting. Moments later in the 55th minute, Substitute Brandon Fernandes played a pinpoint cross onto the far post and found Bipin Singh but his headed pass to Greek striker Nikos Karelis inside the box was intercepted by the Jamshedpur FC defence.

Despite the home side’s continuous efforts up front, it was the away side that found the opening goal. Sanan produced the opening strike with a fantastic finish following Imran Khan, inch-perfect cross from the right flank, and the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduate delivered unlocked the Mumbai City FC defence with deft touch before shooting the ball into the top left corner in the 64th minute.

In the 86th minute, Mumbai City FC pushed forward in search of a late equaliser, with Nikolaos Karelis making a left-footed shot to force JFC custodian Albino Gomes to make a save at the centre of the goal. The visitors launched an instant counter-attack, as Doungel hurled a long ball for Murray at the edge of the box. Mumbai City FC goalkeeper TP Rehenesh charged up, coming out of the 18-yard area, only to find Murray’s slick looping shot sail over his head and land safely into the bottom left corner of the net to hand the Red Miners a safe advantage.

Jamshedpur FC kept Mumbai City FC defence on their toes deep into the game. It was Spanish Hernandez’s turn to get on the scoresheet in the sixth minute of the added time, as he marched inside the box amid his team’s offensive move. A deflected ball delivered to the right flank landed at his feet and he made the most of his unmarked situation to score the goal into the bottom right corner, to cap off a monumental win for the visitors.

The Mumbai City FC Head Coach voiced his dissatisfaction with individual mistakes after missing the opportunity to seal three crucial points. Kratky acknowledged the difficulties posed by the opponent team but also highlighted his players’ inability to deal with pressure situations.

The Czech-Australian Head Coach also seemed worried about the Islanders’ overall performance in their recent matches and their approach while playing against top-six teams.

“Every time we play against top-four or top-five teams, we struggle. We played teams who are at the bottom of the tables, and then we got some points. If you can see a little bit from outside where the level we are, we are somewhere not where we want to be. We need to change something. We need to get better and work harder,” said Kratky.

Mumbai City FC will play their next game against Punjab FC in an away game in New Delhi on 16 January. Jamshedpur FC are set to feature against Mohun Bagan Super Giant on 17 January, who earlier in the evening last year’s losing finalist Mohun Bagan Super Giant stretched their dominance in the Kolkata Derby with a 1-0 win over East Bengal FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati to retain the top position in the league table, eight points clear (35) compared to the second-placed Bengaluru FC (27).

Jamshedpur FC Head Coach Khalid Jamil lauded his team’s collective effort as the Men of Steel secured a commanding win over Mumbai City FC following a goalless first half, where his boys stepped up their attacking play and were duly rewarded with clinical finishing in front of goal.

“It was an important game because the players worked very hard. That’s a key point, as it was because of them that we got this result,” Jamil stated at the post-match press conference.

Jamil commended the contribution of every player and their role in securing another victory for the Men of Steel, as they extended their winning streak to three matches.

“Javi (Hernandez) played really well, as did Jordan (Murray), Lazar (Cirkovic), who was also in midfield, Mumbai based Pratik (Chaudhuri), and Nikhil (Barla), who also did a great job.Albino (Gomes) and even (Muhammad) Uvais, as usual, along with Imran (Khan), Sanan, and Sourav (Das), were all solid. Sourav was dictating the play in midfield, and then Len (Doungel) came in and did well, so it was a collective effort from everyone,” state Jamil whose teams, with he has been associated seems to get the better of the Mumbai outfit over the ISL seasons

Result:

Jamshedpur FC 3 (Mohammed Sanan 64’, Jordan Murray 86’, Javi Hernandez 90+6’)

beat Mumbai City FC 0 (HT 0–0)

Photo Cover : Jamshedpur FC Australian based forward Jordan Murray scores one past on rushing Mumbai City FC custodian TP Rehenesh in a one on one situation for his 200^th ISL goal on Sunday night (Photo courtesy ISL / JFC)

Photo Above : Jamshedpur FC which has some of the tallest players in the ISL tourney including Serbian international Lazar Cirkovic (Right) thwarted the Mumbai City FC attack with their towering presence in the defence