Bambolim, (Goa), Nov 26 (IANS): Jamshedpur FC registered a dominating 3-1 win against FC Goa in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa, on Friday.
Nerijus Valskis (51', 61') was the hero of the match as he remained one shy of a perfect hat-trick, managing to first drive the ball with his left foot and then score via a header.
Jordan Murray (80') piled the third right after coming off the bench. Airan Cabrera, though denied the Jamshedpur FC a clean sheet with a neat finish to register a goal in the 86th minute.
While Goa enjoyed ball possession, Jamshedpur FC had the better chances through set-pieces. Playing in a flat 4-4-2, Jamshedpur FC ensured that FC Goa could not find empty spaces to launch pressing attacks.
With five minutes to go in the first half, Len Doungel failed to punish his former side. He first shot onto Dheeraj and subsequently skied the rebound. Valskis too tried his luck but Dheeraj caught the ball after Glan Martins lost possession of the ball in midfield.
Right after the break, FC Goa threatened Jamshedpur FC with a freekick but Rehenesh kept it at bay as Alberto Noguera was denied.
At the other end, Valskis made his long-ranger count and snapped his 10-game goalless run with a delectable left-footed strike to break the deadlock. Valskis doubled his tally within ten minutes. Greg Stewart's curling freekick was met by the Lithuanian, who rose the highest inside the box and nodded home.
Jordan Murray barely was on the pitch when he added the third for the Red Miners, with his first touch in the game.
Stewart proved to be a menace with his quality humbling the FC Goa midfield. While Ferrando kept on refreshing the legs on the pitch, there was no real attempt at finding a breakthrough as the Gaurs reeled off early season blues. While they did score a solitary goal, the match was nothing but a complete dominance by Jamshedpur over FC Goa.
FC Goa would look towards the match against NorthEast to put an end to their defeats while Jamshedpur FC face Hyderabad FC next.