Mohammed Sanan led a dominant display by the attackers as Jamshedpur FC routed Chennaiyin FC 4-1 in an Indian Super League (ISL) game to return to winning ways at JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Saturday.
While Sanan (7', 58') headlined the scoring chart with a brace, Raphael Messi Bouli (27') and Nikola Stojanovic (78') netted one apiece for the hosts. S Prakadeswaran's (69') strike for the visitors was more of a consolation and did not impact the outcome.
Match Overview
Winless in their last five encounters, the Men of Steel were desperate to turn things around to improve their standings in the crucial final phase of the league. The comprehensive win over their opponents from Chennai helped the hosts move up to fourth spot on the league table with 18 points from 10 games. With five wins, Jamshedpur FC are now just two points behind leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
As for the Marina Machans, they continued their poor form and remained static at 10th spot with nine points from 10 games.
First Half Dominance
Keeping the lopsided head-to-head record in Chennaiyin's favor aside, Jamshedpur FC took an early lead in the seventh minute when Rosenberg Gabriel's assist was put into the net by Sanan. The hosts doubled the lead in less than half an hour as Bouli headed home a Nikhil Barla cross from close range, taking a 2-0 lead into the breather.
Second Half Action
With their backs to the wall, Chennaiyin's hope of a comeback in the second half was extinguished when Sanan found his double just before the hour mark, again converting a Rosenberg assist to make it 3-0 at the Furnace.
Chennaiyin raised some hopes of a late fightback by pulling one back about 10 minutes later when super-sub Prakadeswaran's clinical finish following an Inigo Martin assist beat JFC goalkeeper Albino Gomes all ends up.
However, Mohammad Nawaz spilled Stojanovic's weak effort 12 minutes from time as Owen Coyle's boys restored the lead and put the result beyond Chennaiyin's reach, securing crucial three points from the game.
