Jamshedpur FC lock horns with ATK Mohun Bagan for top spot in the 2021-22 Hero Indian Super League (ISL) tie at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on Monday in the last league stage match of the season.
A Jamshedpur FC win or a draw against ATKMB would guarantee the Men of Steel the League Shield. ATKMB need to beat JFC by two or more goals to win the season's first piece of silverware. Jamshedpur have 40 points from 19 games while third-placed ATKMB have 37.
The in-form Jamshedpur have posted six wins in a row, a win in their next game would see them become the first team in Hero ISL to win seven straight games. ATKMB have not lost in their last 15 games, avoiding defeat in the next game would make them the first team to go unbeaten in 16 games in Hero ISL.
When Jamshedpur and ATKMB face each other, they are not fighting for the Shield alone. Both the teams are on the verge of breaking Hero ISL records in their next game. For Jamshedpur, a win would mean they would become the first team ever to win seven straight Hero ISL games. After their last win, Jamshedpur joined Bengaluru FC on six straight wins as joint holders of this record. A win for Jamshedpur would see them break the existing record and create a new record.
Jamshedpur are also on the verge of breaking another record. Jamshedpur have accumulated 40 points in Hero ISL 21-22, the joint highest a team has gained after the league stages of the Hero ISL (Bengaluru FC in 2017-18, ATKMB and Mumbai City FC in 2020-21). A win or a draw would see the club create a new record.
Nigerian forward Daniel Chima Chukwu scored twice in Jamshedpur FC’s 5-1 win over Odisha FC as JFC are confirmed to finish in the top two. Chima has scored 9 goals in Hero ISL 21-22, 7 of which have been for Jamshedpur. Since Chima’s debut for JFC, no player has scored more goals in the league than him. Alongwith Greg Stewart, the duo have been lethal.
ATKMB have also been on a stellar run under Juan Ferrando and Roy Krishna finding his scoring boots in the last game only augurs well for the Mariners. Joni Kauko has also been in good form along with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh being consistent throughout. The last time the two sides met, Jamshedpur edged past ATKMB by a 2-1 margin.
Jamshedpur head coach Owen Coyle said everybody in the club is excited for this game because everyone has worked so hard.
"But we also know that we are about to play some wonderful opponents who have fantastic individual players and an outstanding team who have been on such a long unbeaten streak. We have a chance of finishing in the number 1 position and so does ATK Mohun Bagan.So we want to see it through and go on to give our best performance bacause if we do that, then we know we can win such tough games," he added.
Jamshedpur FC to miss Mobashir
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Disciplinary Committee has served a two-match suspension to Jamshedpur FC's Mohammad Mobashir Rahman and fined him Rs. 1.5 Lakh after being found guilty of 'violent conduct' in their 2021-22 Hero Indian Super League (ISL) match against Hyderabad FC.
Mobashir, an ex-Tata Football Academy cadet, is ineligible for selection in the League Shield deciding match on Monday. The player has already served an automatic one-match ban in Jamshedpur FC's previous match against Odisha FC.
