Bhubaneswar, February 7: Jamshedpur FC continued their unbeaten run in the AIFF Elite League, settling for a hard-fought 1-1 draw against AIFF Academy in the away match held at the Odisha Football Academy in Bhubaneswar.

With this result, Jamshedpur FC remain on top of the table with 16 points, maintaining a five-point cushion over second-placed Inter Kashi, with three matches still to play in the zonal round.

JFC got off to a dream start as Rayan found the back of the net inside the very first minute, finishing calmly after being set up by Satyajit. The early goal set the tone, and within the opening ten minutes, Jamshedpur could have doubled their advantage. Mama’s curling effort rattled the post, while Sana came close with a header from a corner that drifted agonisingly wide.

Despite Jamshedpur’s dominance, AIFF Academy struck back against the run of play. Their forward produced a moment of individual brilliance, scoring from outside the box to level the contest. The goal disrupted JFC’s rhythm, and the teams went into the break locked at 1-1.

The second half saw a more balanced affair, with chances at both ends. Mama, Alvin and Mars all tested the AIFF defence but were denied by a combination of last-ditch defending and saves. At the other end, Ritabrata Sarkar produced a crucial stop in the dying minutes to preserve the draw and ensure Jamshedpur returned with a valuable point from a difficult fixture.

Jamshedpur had beaten AIFF Academy 2-0 in the home leg, and this result further underlined their consistency in the league.

JFC will next be in action against YAFC Academy on February 10 in Jamshedpur.