A goal from Stephen Eze and a TP Rehenesh masterclass between the sticks ensured a 1-0 win for Jamshedpur FC over Bengaluru FC in Match 41 of Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 at the Fatorda Stadium on Monday. The Nigerian centre-back's header sealed the deal for Owen Coyle’s men and condemned Bengaluru FC to a second consecutive defeat.

• Stephen Eze gave his side the lead in the 79th minute.
• TP Rehenesh made a number of important saves to keep his side in the game.

Bengaluru striker Kristian Opseth tested the Jamshedpur goalkeeper in the opening moments of the game. Suresh Wangjam was fouled by Alexandre Lima and the following freekick was hit straight on goal and pushed out for a corner by Rehenesh.

The Blues came close to taking the lead in the 11th minute after Wangjam burst forward and played the ball to his skipper Sunil Chhetri. The striker managed to get a shot on target but the effort took a deflection and went out for a corner. 

Jamshedpur too had their first major opportunity shortly after. Aitor Monroy’s corner to the far post was not clearly met by Eze but the move was kept alive by Lima. His cross to the defender was shot on goal but Bengaluru midfielder Dimas Delgado made an important clearance.

Both sides had clear chances in the opening 30 minutes. After the drinks break, it was Bengaluru who came the closest to opening the scoring. Wangjam found himself one-on-one with the Jamshedpur goalkeeper. However, Wangjam chose to lay the ball to the onrushing Cleiton Silva but the pass was intercepted by Rehenesh and the rebound was also punched away by the goalkeeper. Shortly after Chettri too missed the target narrowly.

Wangjam continued his strong start to the match when he had his shot saved by Rehenesh in the 37th minute. At the other end, Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu ensured the score remained goalless close to half-time after the custodian saved a header from Jamshedpur winger Jackichand Singh.

A slow start to the second half from both sides was followed by another important save by Gurpreet in the 62nd minute. A freekick floated in by Monroy fell to Peter Hartley but the Jamshedpur defender’s shot was brilliantly parried away by the Bengaluru custodian. The rebound was shot by Eze but the effort was blocked on the goal-line by Rahul Bheke.

Jamshedpur at last succeeded in making inroads as their 26-year-old defender Eze scored his third goal of the season to give his side the lead in the 79th minute. Brazilian midfielder Alexandre passed the ball to Aniket Jadhav, whose low cross into the box was headed towards goal by Eze. The ball beat the goalkeeper and a Bengaluru defender on its way into the net.  

The goal opened the match at both ends with the Blues searching for an equaliser and Jamshedpur looking to double their lead. Mohammad Mobashir had a half chance but his effort was just wide of the post. In the 86th minute, Bheke headed Delgado’s corner towards the goal but Rehenesh pulled off another great save to ensure Jamshedpur kept the lead intact.

Bengaluru worked hard but were unable to break through the Jamshedpur defence as well as the able hands of Rehenesh. The Blues were handed their second defeat in as many matches while Jamshedpur secured their third win of Hero ISL 2020-21, taking Owen Coyle’s men into the top four.

Hero of the Match: TP Rehenesh   

The Jamshedpur custodian was the best player for his side yet again and kept his third clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win over Bengaluru FC. TP Rehenesh saved all six of the shots that he faced on target and also made three punches and two clearances for Jamshedpur.

Other Match Awards:

Club Award: Jamshedpur FC

DHL Winning Pass of the Match Award: Aniket Jadhav (Jamshedpur FC)

Watch the Match Highlights here: