Second-half performance was not up to the mark: Jamshedpur FC’s Khalid Jamil
Khalid Jamil reflected on his team's elimination from playoff contention following their defeat against Chennaiyin FC.
Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil expressed his dissatisfaction with his team's second-half performance after they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.
The Men of Steel became the second team to be eliminated from playoff contention following their loss to Chennaiyin FC. Rei Tachikawa opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half, but two quick second-half goals from Rafael Crivellaro and Rahim Ali propelled the Marina Machans to victory over Khalid Jamil's side on their home turf.
Jamil appeared frustrated with his players' performance in the second half, despite taking a 1-0 lead in a crucial away game. Individual defensive errors were identified as the main reason behind his team conceding twice within seven minutes, ultimately dashing their hopes of securing a top-six finish.
"Definitely, when you are leading 1-0 in an away game and heading into the second half, the first thing you need to do is stay alert. Keep it simple. Maybe you can play long ball, but it's unnecessary; you don’t have to build up,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“Unfortunately, due to some careless mistakes at the back, we found ourselves caught up in a build-up game, which was a big mistake. We've instructed the players to handle high-pressure situations by resorting to long balls or opting for early forward passes. Regrettably, we conceded two goals in a span of about five minutes.,” he added.
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Jamil acknowledged that his team was unable to execute their game plan effectively. The match was essentially a final for his team, a crucial opportunity to continue their pursuit of the playoffs. However, their defeat against Owen Coyle’s team has dashed their hopes, marking the end of their ISL 2023–24 season.
“It was the last chance for us,” he stated.
“The attitude was good in the first half; we thought that we could take three points. But in the second half, it’s about lack of concentration. It was an important match. It was a very tough game, but it was like a final. But the second-half performance was not up to the mark,” he continued.
Jamshedpur FC created better opportunities during the opening half but couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Mohammed Sanan K’s powerful strike rattled the post, while Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Debjit Majumder stood strong between the bars, denying Jamshedpur FC the chance to double their lead on other occasions.
“In the first half, we had many chances that deserved a good finish. Everybody tried. We hit the post twice, I think. We have to be clinical,” Jamil opined.