
They were beaten in the first leg of the league stage and managed a 1-1 draw in front of the home crowd in the return leg. On Thursday, Khalid Jamil’s Jamshedpur FC lit up JRD Tata Sports Complex with skipper Javi Hernandez scoring a later winner in the 2-1 win against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the first leg of their Indian Super League semifinal.
Jose Molina’s Shield winners went in as the favourites on the day, especially with Jamshedpur’s disappointing season at home. But Jamil and his men came out on top showing grit and rigour, with Javier Siverio getting them the opener in the 24th minute.
While Bagan showed their might in the field to get a spectacular equaliser from Jason Cummings 13 minutes later, the Red Miners’ defence kept Bagan’s quest for the winner at bay.
The hosts then edged ahead of Bagan with the 91st-minute winner from the Spanish midfielder to earn a lead ahead of Monday’s second leg in Kolkata. Jamil’s 4-3-2-1 combination — bringing in Siverio upfront with Jordan Murray — worked well for the hosts as they dominated the first 20 minutes with Bagan taking their time to find their rhythm.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute. Stephen Eze was in the thick of things as Muhammad Uvais’s long throw grazed the back of the Nigerian’s head and reached Siverio who turned it in with his head to the frustration of the Bagan defenders and Vishal Kaith under the bar.