It may not have been a game of much relevance to the rest of the Hero Indian Super League teams, but to Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United FC, Saturday’s encounter held a lot of value.
Both teams were playing for pride after being ruled out of contention for the playoff spots in the Hero ISL, but were keen to show their fans that there’s still plenty they can offer as a unit.
The Men of Steel came out comfortable winners in the end, and perhaps showed the signs of renaissance that has kept them in the good books of most supporters for much of the second half of the campaign.
The playoffs might be out of reach, but with the Hero Super Cup and the all important AFC Champions League playoff match coming up, the signs are looking ever positive around the Jamshedpur camp.
Star striker Daniel Chima Chukwu mentioned in the pre-match press conference that the “mood was good in general” in the camp, and it certainly showed on the pitch at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.
While NorthEast struggled to take their chances and lacked a certain level of teamwork, JFC had a togetherness that has become synonymous with their parent owners Tata over the years.
Ritwik Das’ fourth goal of the season was met with a roar and a determination to go for even more, while Daniel Chima’s second half strike was cheered on by the substitutes warming up off the pitch like they scored it themselves.
Speaking of Chima, the Nigerian has now become Jamshedpur’s all time leading goalscorer, beating Greg Stewart’s tally of 10 goals for the club by scoring his eleventh in cool and calm fashion against the Highlanders.
The team is coming together, and while it may seem too little too late, there’s never a bad time to win football matches, and there is potential for JFC to really shake up the Hero ISL table with just a few games left.
The Men of Steel play their final home game of the season against ATK Mohun Bagan on the 9th of February, knowing full well that they can spoil the Kolkata giants’ party with a strong performance.
With further away games against Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC still to come, there is potential for Aidy Boothroyd’s men to push up the table and finish on a high ahead of some crucial matches in the Hero Super Cup and the AFC playoff.
Jamshedpur fans have had to endure a lot this season, but they can hold their heads up high knowing that their team is clearly doing its very best to end the season on a high.
