Mumbai City FC won over Jamshedpur FC 3-1 in Tuesday’s Hero Club play-off tie here at Payyanad Stadium. The match was to secure a place in the group stage of the 2023/24 edition of the AFC Champions League. It was expected to be a close match and it turned out to be a battle of attrition, although the result suggests Mumbai had it easy.
It was an end-to-end game with both teams coming tantalizingly close to scoring on more than one occasion. Strikes by Ahmed Jahouh, Alberto Noguera, and Vikram Partap Singh were enough to rule Mumbai. Eli Sabia’s late attempt at a comeback from Jamshedpur could have had little effect. Mumbai City started the game strongly and showed some good passages. Jahouh was the focus of all dangerous attacks.
However, Jamshedpur goalkeeper TP Rehenesh managed to avoid them early in the game. Jamshedpur also had a few chances to take the lead. In the 12th minute. A free-kick from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on the edge of the goal forced goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa to stretch and slam the ball over the bar. After half an hour, Jamshedpur almost found themselves in the lead again.
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However, Ricky Lallawmawma missed a nice cross from the corner to hit the side netting. Finally, the referee whistled and both teams went into half-time 0-0. After the change of sides, Mumbai City again looked deadly in the third attack, forcing Rehenesh to make a save.
Finally, the two-time Hero Indian Super League Shield winner broke through after Ricky Lallianzuala brought down Chhangte in the box.Jahouh took the penalty and gave his team the lead with a cool header into the bottom left corner.
With 20 minutes to go, Des Buckingham and his men doubled their lead. This time it was Alberto Noguera who hit the net with a superb left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Jamshedpur showed signs of a comeback and Ricky found himself in goal again in the 76th minute. But, the full-back couldn’t rectify his earlier mistake and shot just wide from close range.But minutes later, captain Eli Sabia headed in after a corner to make it 2-1.
But Mumbai City FC was in no mood to lose control of the game. They kept looking for their third goal and they did it. Former Jamshedpur player Greg Stewart counter attacked with only one defender and the goalkeeper at his disposal. The Scot found a pass in the center of the box to Vikram Partap Singh and the latter beat the keeper to give his team an emphatic victory.
