Jamshedpur FC became the first team to book a semi-final spot in the Hero Super Cup 2023 thanks to a 3-0 win over ATK Mohun Bagan In a Group C match at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode on Friday. The result also meant that the Mariners and FC Goa bowed out of contention.

After a display of great counter-attacking football, Jamshedpur FC rode on a Boris Singh brace (21’, 41’) and a late Harry Sawyer strike (90+3’) to record an emphatic win over the Hero ISL champions that sent them into the last four. 

ATK Mohun Bagan began the match on the front foot pinning Jamshedpur FC in their own half, but Aidy Boothroyd’s team did well to soak in the early pressure and slowly started to threaten the Mariners on the break. 

Vishal Kaith produced a fine save to keep Ritwik Das’ effort wide in the 9th minute. It was an early warning sign for Juan Ferrando’s men who were opened up again in the 21st minute. 

A well-worked move saw the ball reach Rafael Crivellaro’s feet who fed an eager Boris for a tap-in at the far post to put the Red Miners in front. 

ATK Mohun Bagan almost conceded again four minutes later when Vishal Kaith who came off his line to clear the ball missed his kick but Pritam Kotal was there to make a goal-line clearance and keep the scoreline at 1-0. 

Daniel Chima Chukwu then had a goal ruled out for offside in the 36th minute but it took Jamshedpur FC just five more minutes to double their lead when Ritwik managed to sneak in behind the ATK Mohun Bagan defence and lay it on a plate for Boris who obliged for the second time on the night. 

The Red Miners took a healthy 2-0 lead into the interval and were full value for it. 

Ferrando’s men came out in the second half with a lot more purpose but found a stubborn Jamshedpur FC backline too hard to create openings again. Chukwu then had a chance to add a third from a free-kick but sent his glancing header wide just after the hour mark. 

ATK Mohun Bagan then went close to halving the deficit seven minutes from time when Asish Rai’s delicious cross almost found his teammate only for Jamshedpur FC to get bodies back and somehow scramble it away. 

Sawyer then added the icing on the cake for the Red Miners with a third goal that finished off the challenge of the Mariners as his team booked a place in the semi-final. 

Jamshedpur FC will face hosts Gokulam Kerala in the final match of the group while ATK Mohun Bagan and FC Goa will face off with pride to play for. 

FC Goa’s late win in vain

Earlier in the day Iker Guarrotxena’s late winner against Gokulam Kerala had kept FC Goa’s chances alive before Jamshedpur FC extinguished it with a win over ATK Mohun Bagan. 

Noah Sadaoui looked set to seal the late win when he broke behind Gokulam’s backline, but saw his effort being saved by Shibin Raj. The rebound, fell kindly for the opportunistic Iker Guarrotxena, who slotted in his 13th strike of the season from close range before the team joined in celebrations with Brandon Fernandes’ shirt with the captain missing his action due to personal reasons.

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