Stewart and Chima Chukwu power Jamshedpur to a 3-0 win against Kerala Blasters
Jamshedpur bounced back to winning ways with a 3-0 triumph over Kerala Blasters in ‘Match 87’ of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season. Greg Stewart scored twice from the penalty spot while Daniel Chima Chukwu netted his third goal in as many matches for the Red Miners.
Jamshedpur head coach Owen Coyle made three changes to his starting XI that lost against Bengaluru. Having served his suspension, Peter Hartley was reinstated at the heart of the defense at Narender Gehlot’s expense, while Alex Lima was sacrificed for Pronay Halder in order to maintain overseas count. Besides that, Ritwik Das was also handed a chance in Seimenlen Doungel’s place.
On the other hand, Kerala Blasters head coach Ivan Vukomanovic made four changes to his team. In a bid to strengthen his defense, the Serbian tactician played Enes Sipovic in Ruivah Hormipam’s place, while Denechandra Meetei replaced Nishu Kumar. Ayush Adhikari and Jorge Pereyra Diaz, the two players who were suspended for this match, were replaced by Puitea and Vincy Barretto respectively.
The Red Miners had a bright start to the game but lacked the clinical edge in the final third. Stewart played a good ball for Das in the 11th minute and the shot from the West Bengal-born player was not bad either, but it took a deflection from Sipovic before going out for a corner.
The Tuskers had their first big opening in the 23rd minute, not because of their own efforts but owing to a poor clearance from Hartley. Vincy was quick to latch on to the ball and pull the trigger, but his shot lacked the power to beat TP Rehenesh in the Jamshedpur goal.
In the 38th minute, Coyle’s team had another good opportunity when Harmanjot Khabra conceded a freekick in a dangerous position. Stewart’s shot from the set-piece left the Kerala Blasters custodian Prabhsukhan Gill rooted to his spot, but it went wide of the goal.
Jamshedpur’s perseverance eventually paid off just before half-time, courtesy of a callous mistake by Meetei. The left-back clumsily brought Stewart down inside the box and the former Rangers player was never going to miss from 12 yards out.
Coyle’s team started the second half exactly from where they left the first as they were awarded another penalty in the 46th minute. Boris Singh Thangjam made a darting run down the right flank and in an attempt to clear the ball, Marko Leskovic ended up bringing the Manipuri youngster down. Once again, Stewart took the responsibility on his shoulders and there was no change in the end result. While he sent Gill the wrong way in his first penalty, he attempted an audacious chipped shot this time around.
Daniel Chima Chukwu has scored in three consecutive matches for Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur’s onslaught did not end there as they scored their third only five minutes later. Boris was involved in the build-up again as he whipped in a dangerous cross from the right-wing that found Nigerian marksman Chukwu who hit a powerful first-time shot to find the back of the net.
They almost scored their fourth goal of the night when Das received a long ball played from the deep on the left flank. He did well to chase the ball, outfox his marker and then launch a curling effort, but his shot was agonizingly off-target.
The Tuskers never really looked threatening and relied mostly on individual efforts, like that of Alvaro Vazquez in the 78th minute when he went for glory but could not beat Rehenesh. Five minutes later, Jamshedpur had another chance of scoring their fourth but this opportunity went begging as well as substitute Ishan Pandita could not keep his header on target.
The Red Miners have climbed to the second position with this win and will now take on defending champions Mumbai City on Thursday whilst the fifth-placed Kerala Blasters will be up against East Bengal on Monday.