Jamshedpur FC notched up their second win of the Durand Cup campaign with a professional 2-1 win over Chennaiyin FC in a Group D clash at the Tata Sports Complex stadium in Jamshedpur on Sunday.

Goals from Wungngayam Muirang and Jordan Murray, one in each half of the game was enough to give the Red Miners full three points to go with their first game win over the Assam Rifles. Vincy Barretto pulled one back for the Marina Machans with a sensational pile-driver from distance, but that strike in the second minute of added time, proved too late to prevent their second consecutive defeat, having gone down to the Indian Army in their opener.

Both teams had Indian managers and both made three changes from their first outing in the tournament. While Khalid Jamil of Jamshedpur deployed four forwards on the day revealing his intentions clearly, Noel Wilson went in with a tradition 4-3-3 formation, the experienced Romario Jesuraj and skipper Bikash Yumnam manning a four-man back line.

Chennaiyin dominated the first 15 mins with their young and energetic side giving the Red Miners defence few anxious moments.

The local side however got back into the game and took the lead just after the half-hour mark when a corner floated perfectly into the six-yard box by Mobashir Rahman, saw Jamshedpur’s Manipuri defender Muirang. rise to head home.

The visitors then almost equalised minutes later, when Muirang was adjudged to have brought down Irfan inside the box, but the young striker missed from the spot.

Jamil brought in Spanish striker Javier Siverio at half-time in place of Aniket Jadhav and both coaches rung in changes as the second-half progressed. Wilson made a double change just after the hour mark but it was one of Jamil’s substitutes who came off first, when Jordan Murray delightfully and powerfully headed home from an Md. Imran cross from the left flank to give the Red Miners the cushion they were looking for.  

Chennaiyin fought on gamely and finally in injury time yet another substitute Vincy Barretto, unleashed a stunner from about 30-yards out to spoil Jamshedpur shot-stopper Albino Gomes’ hopes of a clean sheet.

Kerala Blasters FC and Punjab FC share spoils

Kerala Blasters FC and Punjab FC played out a tightly-contested 1-1 draw at the Vivekanand Yuba Bharat Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday.

Luka Majcen put the Shers in front before Mohammad Aimen restored parity for the Blasters in the second half as both teams consolidated their positions at the top end of the Group C table.

The Blasters started brightly of the two teams with new signing Noah Sadaoui threatening early on.

Freddy Lallawmawma rattled the woodwork in the 36th minute as the Blasters went agonisingly close.

Just when it seemed that the first half would end goalless, Luka Majcen broke the deadlock with a fine finish to put Punjab FC in front of the stroke of half-time.

Mikael Stahre introduced Aimen and Yoihenba for the second half and the former made an instant impact as he equalised for the Blasters in the 57th minute.

Kerala Blasters FC goalkeeper Som Kumar then stepped up to the plate to deny Punjab FC from taking back their lead as the two sides cancelled each other out in the dying minutes to settle for a point each.

Punjab FC take on Mumbai City FC in their final Group C match while the Blasters face CISF Protectors.