Jamshedpur FC recorded a morale-boosting 1-0 win against Odisha FC in the Indian Super League at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim, on Monday.
Mohammad Mobashir Rahman scored a 41st-minute goal which proved to be the difference between the two sides, ending JFC’s five-game winless run and keeping their play-off hopes alive.
Jamshedpur moved up to sixth spot with 18 points from 15 matches, while Odisha stay in bottom place with just eight points from 14 games.
Stuart Baxter made two changes from Odisha’s 1-1 draw against Bengaluru, handing a start to Bradden Inman who had joined on loan from ATK Mohun Bagan. Paul Ramfangzauva was the other change in the playing XI. For Jamshedpur, center-back Peter Hartley returned from injury and Mobashir replaced Aitor Monroy.
Odisha custodian Arshdeep Singh was called into action early on. Seiminlen Doungel dispossessed Rakesh Pradhan and, on entering the penalty area, forced a save from Singh.
Odisha should have scored soon. Ramfangzauva set Jerry Mawihmingthanga through in the Jamshedpur penalty area, and the latter beat a market before losing possession to Narender Gahlot. The ball rolled towards Manuel Onwu, who fumbled in front of the goal, before being cleared out for a corner.
The Jamshedpur defenders were at their best despite being under a lot of pressure. Stephen Eze and Hartley managed to thwart the danger posed by their opponents. Going forward, their attack looked dangerous too.
Doungel was impressive for JFC and may have finally found a place that could get the best out of him. He nearly assisted a goal at the half-hour mark but Farukh Choudhary struck over the bar.
JFC finally broke the deadlock in the 41st minute through Mobashir. The youngster put in a cross for Nerijus Valskis, whose movement in the box confused Singh, and the ball went straight into the goal. The Odisha keeper should have done better.
Doungel continued to trouble the Odisha defence after the restart. After getting the ball on the flank, he cut inside and tested Singh, who pushed the ball out for a corner. But JFC failed to take advantage of the resulting corner.
Singh was called into action once again when Alexandre Lima tried his luck from a distance only to see his effort saved.
OFC kept attacking but poor passing in the final third saw them lose possession and hardly test the keeper. At the other end, Singh kept his side in the game with yet another save to deny Choudhary.
Odisha had a late penalty claim when Diego Mauricio was tripped in the area by TP Rehenesh, but the referee turned down the appeal.
(With inputs from ISL Media)