ISL: Jamshedpur FC pip BFC while Goa FC boss Odisha FC - Talking Points

Saturday's night doubled-header in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 witnessed some exciting football with FC Goa defeating Odisha FC 4-2 and then Jamshedpur FC nudging out Bengaluru FC.

The Gaurs extend unbeaten streak

At the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, FC Goa defeated Odisha FC by 4-2.

The Gaurs are third in the table with 25 points now, and they have extended their unbeaten streak in away matches to seven games, with Manolo Marquez winning his maiden ISL game on the road against a side coached by Sergio Lobera. Odisha FC are now winless in their 11 face-offs in the league with the Gaurs.

Brison Fernandes, who scored twice in a match for the second straight time, kicked off the game strongly for the visitors, as he combined with Iker Guarrotxena inside the box to pounce upon the Odisha FC backline that had given them ample space to attempt a shot right through the centre. Iker got the ball inside the box, but lost possession to Mourtada Fall.

The Odisha FC defender took a heavy touch, resulting in the ball landing in Brison’s path. The FC Goa player controlled the ball with his chest, before getting it down and drilling it into the bottom right corner to open the scoring in the eighth minute. OFC 0 – 1 FCG

The Juggernauts fight back

The Juggernauts struck back with Jerry Lalrinzuala drawing a foul inside the penalty box.

This was Jerry’s 150 appearance in the ISL, making him only the 10th player to do so in the league. His effort yielded immediate returns for the Juggernauts. Ahmed Jahouh stepped up on the spot, pulling off a panenka style penalty, which hit the high centre of the goal, completely catching goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari off-guard, and equalising the scores in the 29th minute. OFC 1 – 1 FCG

FC Goa recouped their lead in the added time of the first half. It came as a result of a piercing move by the Gaurs, with Iker again playing an indirect role in the goal.

He cut into the inside channel of the left flank, pulling the entire attention of the Odisha FC defensive unit. His shot was thus obstructed, but the home side didn’t clear it properly, with the ball landing in Udanta Singh’s feet on the right flank. He nestled it into the bottom right corner with absolute ease, following an impeccable touch to control the ball. OFC 1 – 2 FCG

The Gaurs added to their tally with a fantastic solo effort in the 53rd minute. It was a move that didn’t require significant build-up.

Brison simply received the ball from defender Sandesh Jhingan as the team looked to break forward. Brison turned around, showed quick footwork, before shooting the ball into the top right corner from the outside of the box, bagging his brace. OFC 1 – 3 FCG

FC Goa capitalised on this momentum, with their frontline momentarily assuming a free-flowing role to exploit further openings in the Odisha FC defence. Iker switched to the right, and as had been the case earlier in the match, drew multiple Odisha FC players towards him inside the box. He tried sending in a cross for the unmarked Brison on the opposite end, but the delivery was sent inside the net by Amey Ranawade in the 56th minute, resulting in an own goal in the name of the defender. OFC 1 – 4 FCG

Odisha FC encountered a few opportunities to strike back, but they left it too late to cut the deficit. They grabbed their second goal of the game through a header by Jerry Mawihmingthanga, who converted a cross by Thoiba Singh from the left side of the six-yard box. Jerry’s shot hit the bottom left corner from extremely close distance, but the home side couldn’t muster up these chances at the right time as the Gaurs walked away with the three points from this match. OFC 2 – 4 FCG

Player of the match

Brison Fernandes stood out in the game for FC Goa. He completed 12 out of his 17 attempted passes, in addition to making one interception, two tackles, and scoring twice to cap off a convincing outing.

2 braces against 2 of last year’s semi-finalists and the first Indian in ISL history to complete back-to-back braces! 🦬🔥😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/GBR5vRJbH6

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) January 4, 2025

Brison bags brace in consecutive matchesOdisha FC will play their next game against Chennaiyin FC on January 9, whereas FC Goa will be playing Hyderabad FC on January 8.

Jamshedpur FC leave it late to beat Bengaluru FC 2-1

In the second fixture of the ngiht, Jamshedpur FC came from behind to pip Bengaluru FC by 2-1 at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.

Bengaluru FC were ahead in the game courtesy of a goal from Alberto Noguera but a second-half blitz from Jamshedpur FC saw Jordan Murray and Muhammad Uvais seal an important win in the ongoing season.

The match started with a great rhythm. In the third minute, the visitors almost took the lead when Noguera found Sunil Chhetri with an exquisite long ball, catching the entire Jamshedpur FC defence off-guard. However, Albino Gomes kept out Chhetri’s eventual effort. Apart from the initial opportunity, the first quarter didn’t see many chances but it was extremely eventful in midfield with both teams wrestling for possession.

Despite getting frustrated by Jamshedpur FC’s high press, Bengaluru FC were patient during their buildup in the initial quarter of the game. They eventually struck first blood in the 19th minute when Naorem Roshan Singh made a surging run down the left flank and followed it up with a brilliant cross for Noguera, who made a late sprint into the box and calmly caressed it past Albino.

In retaliation, Jamshedpur FC almost found the equaliser when Imran Khan found Pratik Chaudhuri in the box with a fine cross.

While Pratik didn’t get a proper connection with the ball, it was also not cleared away by the Bengaluru FC defenders as it pinballed inside the area. Eventually, Pratik latched onto the stray ball and hammered it on target but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood in his way, denying the equaliser.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC tried to double the lead through Chhetri, who had two cracks at goal and still couldn’t increase the lead. It was another great run from Roshan, who found Chhetri in the box with a perfect cross. The 40-year-old’s initial effort struck the post and returned to him. His second effort saw Pratik come up with a tremendous block to deny the Blues the second goal.

Furnace Mein Bhaukaal 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eztbkirEW2

— Jamshedpur FC (@JamshedpurFC) January 4, 2025

Feisty start to the second half

The second half started on a feisty note with both teams not giving an inch to their counterpart. However, Bengaluru FC with their extra bit of quality in the final third were able to create some chances. This time it was an opportunity for Edgar Mendez to double the lead from a cross but Albino parried it to safety.

In the 72nd minute, Gerard Zaragoza decided to close the game out by bringing on Aleksandar Jovanovic and Vinith Venkatesh to replace Noguera and Chinglensana Singh. As a reply, Khalid Jamil turned to Ritwik Das and Mobashir Rahman in place of Seiminlen Doungel and Sourav Das respectively as he aimed to freshen things up in attack and midfield.

In the 84th minute, Jamshedpur FC’s persistence bore fruit as Jordan Murray came up with the equaliser with a picturesque back volley, leaving Gurpreet and the other defenders stunned. The move was initiated from Mobashir’s corner, which was cleared away but Nikhil Barla picked up the loose ball and found Murray with a brilliant cross. The Australian controlled the ball with his head before coming up with an acrobatic volley to send the Furnace into raptures.

Khalid Jamil’s men came up with the knockout punch in the 90th minute when Muhammad Uvais steered the ball into the open net after Gurpreet’s parry landed straight into his feet in midfield. This goal sealed the victory for the Men of Steel, breaking their six-game winless streak against the Blues in this competition.

Player of the Match

Jordan Murray did the star turn for Jamshedpur FC.

The Australian marksman scored a delightful goal which helped his team gain momentum in the match. Murray also created a solitary chance whilst registering a single cross. He completed 14 out of his 20 attempted passes.

Bengaluru FC will host Mohammedan SC next on January 11 in an afternoon game whereas Jamshedpur FC will travel to Mumbai to face Mumbai City FC on January 12.