After a clinical performance against Kerala Blasters FC, Jamshedpur FC are geared up for the Hero Ind9an Super League 2021-22 tie versus Mumbai City FC in Bambolim, Goa on Thursday evening.
Both sides aiming to secure a semi-final spot will pull no punches in the crucial outing. Mumbai are placed 5th in the table with 25 points, same as Jamshedpur who are in the fourth spot but with a game in hand. A win for both teams will propel them to third place and help cut the gap on leaders Hyderabad FC and second-placed ATK Mohun Bagan.
Mumbai arrested their lean patch with two back-to-back victories to strengthen their position and have looked good of late with the likes of Bipin Singh coming good. Singh scored a brace and provided one assist in the Islanders’ 4-1 win over Odisha.
Ahmed Jahouh is also aiming for a record of Mumbai's all-time leading assist provider. Nkufo Isako Arnold, who provided 8 assists in the 2018-19 season of the ISL, holds the record now and Jahouh is tied for the second position after his 7 assists this season. The Moroccan midfielder is one assist away from equaling Arnold’s record.
Jamshedpur have been in good goalscoring touch too, racking up three against mighty Kerala Blasters in the pevious match. Daniel Chima Chukwu can't stop scoring goals since joining their ranks as he made it three out of three with a goal in the previous game. Jamshedpur's strength lies in set-pieces too, the side scoring eight goals from free-kicks this season, the highest by any club.
Greg Stewart also broke a 5-game goalless streak as his double secured Jamshedpur a win over Kerala.
"It's going to be a tough game but we know that if we are at our very best, we can win games against top and tough teams. It's all to play for at the business end of the season and we have to be at our very best," said Jamshedpur head coach Owen Coyle.
On Chima, he added, "Daniel Chima has been wonderful since coming in. Greg Stewart has been outstanding all season. But it's teamwork for us. Chima's last goal, Boris Singh pulled back for Chima. So the important thing is, we have individual players who are very talented but strength is as a group."
The last time the two teams met, Mumbai beat Jamshedpur 4-2 in a high-scoring affair.
