Jamshedpur FC clinched a hard-fought 2-1 win against Hyderabad FC in an engaging Indian Super League (ISL) match on Monday at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. The victory propelled Jamshedpur to second place in the league standings. It signals their intent to be serious title contenders this season.
The game began with both teams cautiously assessing each other. In the ninth minute, Jamshedpur made their first move when Imran Khan delivered a pinpoint cross into the Hyderabad penalty box. Still, Mohammed Sanan missed connecting with the ball by a yard. Hyderabad responded with Chunga Hmar’s through ball setting up Cy Goddard. His shot was saved by Jamshedpur’s goalkeeper, Albino Gomes.
The breakthrough for Jamshedpur came in the 29th minute when Sanan sent in a cross from the left. After Alex Saji’s missed header, the ball found Imran Khan, who hit the post. Rei Tachikawa was in the right place at the right time to slot the ball home, giving Jamshedpur a 1-0 lead. The Japanese midfielder almost doubled his tally five minutes later. Yet, Hyderabad’s goalkeeper, Arshdeep Singh, made a crucial save to keep the deficit manageable.
In the 41st minute, Hyderabad came close to levelling the score when Cy Goddard’s clever pass set up Chunga for a curling shot, which Gomes saved. Just before halftime, Jamshedpur struck again. Mohammed Sanan was a constant threat in the game. He threaded a perfect pass to Jordan Murray, who chipped the ball over the advancing Arshdeep Singh to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Hyderabad came out with renewed energy and pulled one back in the 50th minute. Leander D’Cunha launched a long throw into the Jamshedpur box, which Allan de Souza headed. A mix-up in Jamshedpur’s defense allowed Goddard to capitalize, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Both teams made tactical substitutions in the game’s latter stages. Despite Hyderabad’s pressing, Jamshedpur’s defense held firm. The Men of Steel managed to keep their composure, thwarting several Hyderabad attacks and keeping the valuable three points.
The result was a crucial win for Jamshedpur, now in second place in the ISL standings. On the other hand, Hyderabad will be disappointed. They could not find the equalizer despite dominating much of the second half.
With standout performances from Tachikawa and Murray, Jamshedpur will take confidence from this victory as they build momentum in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Hyderabad must improve their finishing, failing to convert opportunities in crucial moments.
