ISL 4: Jamshedpur FC climp to top four

Mumbai/Pune: Jamshedpur FC entered the top four in the Indian Super League with hard fought 2-1 win over Mumbai City FC at Mumbai Football Arena here on Thursday.

Local boy Farukh Choudhary’s solo run in the 37th minute resulted in an own goal after a comedy of errors from the home team’s defence left the crowd shell shocked.

Later, Everton Santos headed equaliser in the 79th minute but Bikash Jairu came from the bench to earn full three points for the visitors.

Jamshedpur now have 22 points in 14 matches while Mumbai City are sixth with 17 points after 13 games after their third straight home loss.

The visitors took control as the hosts took time to build attacks.

The goalscoring moment came when Farukh snatched ball from Wadoo near the centre line and marched close to the box where he fooled rival skipper Gerson Viera by getting ball forward between his legs. His finish was sluggish but enough to force a mistake from Brazilian defender Marcio Rozario, who mistakenly rolled the ball towards goal from back heel before Sanju Pradhan’s desperate saving attempt saw only ball crossing goal line in the 37th minute.
Mumbai kept pressing and Santos headed the equaliser from a corner kick.

Jairu restored the visitors’ lead slotting home from close range.

Pune face Kerala
FC Pune City have impressed in the tournament this year under new coach Ranko Popovich and would look to extend their four-match unbeaten streak when they host Kerala Blasters FC on Friday.

Of these four matches, Pune have won thrice and drawn the other, to be third on the table with 22 points from 12 matches.

Kerala are seventh with 17 points after 13 games.

Pune come into the match full of confidence after beating JFC 2-1.

Forwards Emiliano Alfaro and Marcelo Perreira are in hot form and Pune will hope their guile is enough to unsettle Kerala.