JAMSHEDPUR, Mar 4: Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil lauded his team’s collective effort after the Men of Steel secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in the first leg of semi-final 2 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season.
Jamil’s side once again showed determination from the outset and took the lead against the run of play. Javier Siverio capitalized on a well-worked long throw-in from Muhammed Uvais, with Stephen Eze nodding the ball towards the back post for the Spaniard to head home. However, Jason Cummings soon equalized with a stunning direct free-kick, ensuring the teams went into halftime level.
Despite facing heavy possession from the visitors, Jamshedpur FC remained disciplined, sticking to their game plan and waiting for counterattacking opportunities.
Their patience paid off in stoppage time when Ritwik Kumar Das led a swift break and squared the ball for Javi Hernandez, who calmly slotted it into the net to restore their lead.
“Winning at home against a strong team is always a big achievement. The players put in a tremendous effort to get the result,” Jamil said during the post-match press conference.
“The players used their presence of mind, and the experience of the senior players came in handy once again. Collectively, everyone played according to the plan. Our strategy was to counterattack while also focusing on direct play, with special attention to set-piece situations,” he said while being quizzed on their tactical approach.
Jamil’s late substitution proved decisive, as Das, replacing Mohammed Sanan, made an immediate impact-just as he did in the previous match against NorthEast United FC-by once again linking up with Hernandez to deliver the winning goal.
“Sanan put in a great effort, so he was a bit tired, which is why I brought in Ritwik. He made a big impact in the last match as well, and he’s a quality player. His experience also played a role,” Jamil said.
However, Jamshedpur FC will have to cope without key defenders Ashutosh Mehta and Stephen Eze in the second leg, as both will miss out due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards in both the playoff games.
Despite this setback, Jamil remains confident in his squad’s depth but is currently prioritizing player recovery over tactical preparations for the return leg, set to take place on April 7 in Kolkata.
“We have Pratik Chaudhari and Lazar Cirkovic (who can come as replacements), but right now, our priority is player recovery. We will think about the next steps after that,” he commented.
(UNI)
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