​Two of last season's most surprising sides, Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City FC went head to head at the Mumbai Football Arena today with the former claiming all three points in what was a tense encounter.


Goals from Mario Arqués and Pablo Morgado ensured that Jamshedpur came out victorious away from home and started their season on a high.


Mumbai started this game with a 4-1-4-1 formation with Amrinder Singh in goal. Lucas Goian spearheaded the defence alongside Souvik Chakraborti, Marko Klisura and Subhasish Bose.


Sanju Pradhan, Paulo Machado, Mohammed Rafique, Bipin Singh and Modou Sougou formed part of a five man midfield with Rafael Bastos leading the line for the Islanders.


Tim Cahill's absence meant that Jamshedpur had to hand out a start to 23-year-old forward Sumeet Passi. He was partnered by Jerry Mawihmingthanga to lead the forward line.


Sergio Cidoncha, Memo, Mario Arques, and Carlos Calvo formed part of their four man midfield. Bikash Jairu was forced to play as a makeshift left-back with Dhanachandra injured. Along with Jairu, Raju Gaikwad spearheaded their defence with Tiri and Yumnam Raju.



The game started with both sides testing each other with long balls. Jamshedpur managed to hold on to the ball the most in the initial exchanges of the game and their possession based play was rewarded in the 28th minute.


A good team goal with the buildup started and finished by Mario Arques. He put in an inaccurate long ball from the right. Carlos Calvo received it on the left side of the pitch and put in a cross at the far post. Arques showed alertness and ran in at the back-post, heading the ball in to give Jamshedpur the lead.


Shell-shocked, Mumbai tried to conjure up an instant response. Paulo Machado tried to create something with a cross into Jamshedpur's box. Klisura somehow escapes the offside trap and heads/shoulders the ball inches away from target after hitting the ground.


Mumbai continued with their positive football in the rest of the half but it was not enough as Jamshedpur went into the break leading by a goal.


The second half started with Jamshedpur on the front foot and they almost scored on the 48th minute. Tiri leapt and headed the ball towards Mumbai's goal. Goian luckily stuck out a leg for the ball to go right over the bar.


Right after this, Mumbai countered swiftly after Jamshedpur lost possession near the circle and Sanju threaded Bastos right between the two central defenders. The former CFR Cluj man got a touch on the ball but Jamshedpur goalkeeper Roy Chowdhury came off his line and cleared the ball in a one v one.



As Mumbai kept moving forward, Jamshedpur found more spaces in the midfield and they almost scored on the 64th minute. Jerry made a fantastic turn and played it wide to Calvo and the Spaniard laid the ball to Passi who was hardly seven yards from goal. The striker's horrible first touch saw the ball float over the bar as Mumbai breathed a sigh of relief.


Mumbai tried their best and thought they deserved the equalising goal and they almost got one through Sougou in the 84th minute. Mirabaje took a freekick and Jamshedpur's goalkeeper fumbled. Sougou pounced on the chance and put the ball in the back of the net only to be ruled offside.


The Islanders tried their best and as they committed more men forward, Jamshedpur capitalised in the 95th minute. Cido split Mumbai's defence and released Morgado on the right as he beat the high line played by the Islanders. 


Morgado struck a fantastic angled shot as it went right past a hapless Amrinder in goal for Mumbai. This blow sealed all three points for Jamshedpur and Mumbai were left ruing their missed chances on the night.