Jamshedpur FC picked up their first home victory of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18, when they beat Kerala Blasters FC 2 – 1 at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Wednesday. Jerry Mawihmingthanga and Ashim Biswas struck for the league debutants in the first half before Mark Sifneos grabbed a consolation for the visitors deep into injury time.

The spectators had barely settled down when Jerry struck with the fastest goal in the history of the league. Biswas scuffed his attempted shot on goal, which turned kindly into a pass for the lurking Jerry, who took a deft touch to take it past a diving Paul Rachubka and slot the ball into the net with just 23 seconds played.

Seven minutes later, the relentless hosts fashioned another opportunity when Souvik Chakrabarti delivered a superb cross from the right flank towards an unguarded Izu Azuka. But Jamshedpur’s top scorer could only manage a weak header towards the ground and Rachubka gratefully held on to the ball.

The visitors then took forward the charge and nearly found the equaliser in the 21^st minute. From a corner floated in by Milan Singh, Iain Hume managed to get on target a powerful header, but with custodian Subrata Paul beaten, Yumnam Raju managed to block the effort on the line.

However, a minute after the half-hour mark, Jamshedpur doubled their advantage. Bikash Jairu whipped in a cross from the left which should have been dealt with, but Sandesh Jhingan missed his attempted clearance. The ball fell kindly for Biswas, who fired home first-time with his left foot to mark his maiden Hero ISL goal.

The Blasters tried to find themselves an opening but without much success, as Jamshedpur went into the halftime break maintaining the two-goal cushion.

The second half started off with lesser intensity as either team rarely managed to threaten in the final third and the game centered around the midfield. It was not until nine minutes from time that the first chance of the second period was fashioned. Jerry went on one of his runs down the right flank and put in a cross. However, Azuka’s header under pressure from Jhingan was aimed straight at Rachubka who held on.

Three minutes later, Azuka managed to get behind the defence, but he cut back and tried the shot which was blocked by Jhingan. But the Blasters would get a goal on the night, and it came in the fourth minute of added time. Jhingan’s cross from the right flank managed to come through everybody in the box except substitute Sifneos at the far post, who managed to stick out his head and put the ball into the back of the net.

That proved to be the last bit of action as with the 2 – 1 scoreline, Jamshedpur rose to seventh on the table and within a point of Kerala, who lost for the first time this season under David James.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: Jamshedpur FC

Swift Moment of the Match: Yumnam Raju

DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Bikash Jairu

Amul Fittest Player: Izu Azuka

Emerging Player: Jerry Mawhmingthanga

Hero of the Match: Memo

Watch the match highlights here: