Spaniards Mario Arques and Pablo Morgado scored a goal each to help Jamshedpur FC beat hosts Mumbai City FC 2-0 and start their Indian Super League (ISL) 2018-19 campaign on a rousing note at Mumbai Football Arena on Tuesday.
Jamshedpur's Spanish acquisition left its mark in their very first match of the season with as many as four players from the Iberian peninsula getting themselves involved in both the goals scored today.
Midfielder Arques opened the scoring in the 28th minute with fellow Spaniard Carlos Calvo setting up the goal from a move started by the goalscorer. Then another Spanish pair completed a 2-0 win with Pablo Morgado finding the back of the net in the 90+5 minutes from a Sergio Cidoncha release.
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Mumbai had their share of bad luck when they twice put the ball into the opposition net, but on both the occasions, it was ruled offside. The home side also missed several opportunities to get back into the game.
Jamshedpur began on an attacking note, having a better ball possession. The visitors had a chance in the eighth minute to open the account, but Spanish Mario Arques failed to connect across from Jerry Mawihmingthanga.
But soon, Mumbai came into an attacking mode and created some chances. In the 15th minute, Sauvik Chakrabarti tried to put in the ball into the box from the right but hit it too close for Jamshedpur custodian Subhasish Roy Chowdhury to collect.
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In the 22nd minute, Mumbai created another opportunity. Paulo Machado took a corner kick, but Romanian defender Lucian Goian could not keep the header down.
But the deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Arques' header went into the right corner of the goal to give Jamshedpur a 1-0 lead.
Mumbai created a few chances but were unable to get the equaliser. Sloppy defending from Raju Gaikwad almost put Mumbai midfielder Modou Sougou through, but Tiri did well to cover up for the Indian defender and take the ball off him.
At the half-way mark, Jamshedpur were 1-0 ahead.
After the change of ends, the hosts had another great chance to equalise but again faltered. Midfielder Sanju Pradhan put Brazilian Rafael Bastos through, but the striker took too long as Roy made a diving save.
Chances came thick and fast for Mumbai, but they were unable to convert even one.
In the 59th minute, Sougou's header was thwarted away by Roy. In the 77th minute, Pranjal Bhumij on the left-wing cut it backwards to Raynier Fernandes who crossed in towards the far post. Mohammed Rafique ran and headed the ball into the goal, but the referee ruled it as an off-side.
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Mumbai scored again, this time from a free kick, but the referee ruled it as an off-side.
Jamshedpur then doubled their lead in the stoppage time. In a brilliant counter-attack, Sergio Cidoncha played to Morgado, who ran in and slotted the ball into the far corner of the goal.
(With PTI inputs)
