Jamshedpur FC moved to the second spot with a convincing 3-0 win over Kerala Blasters in a Hero Indian Super League 2021-22 encounter at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa on Thursday evening.

Greg Stewart (45th, 48th) scored two goals from the spot on either side of half-time before Daniel Chima Chukwu (53rd) found the net for the third straight game since joining the Men of Steel.

Jamshedpur now have 25 points from 14 matches (7 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses), a game less than table-toppers Hyderabad FC who have 26 points from 15 outings (7 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses). Kerala dropped to fifth after the loss with 23 points from 14 games (6 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses).

Jamshedpur, who were placed 5th before the match against Kerala, saw more of the ball in the early exchanges as both teams started cautiously, trying to gauge what the other was doing.

There were no real chances before the cooling break after which Kerala got their act together and kept the ball more with the likes of Abdul Sahal, Adrian Luna and Alvaro Vazquez having more influence in the game.

For Jamshedpur, Ritwik Das impressed as he went past a couple of Kerala players and into the box to set up Jitendra Singh whose effort was blocked. Denechandram Meitei then gave away a cheap penalty as he pulled Stewart down inside the area for the referee to point towards the spot. The Scottish attacker stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending Prabhsukhan Gill the wrong way as he tucked the ball away into the right bottom corner.

It was all Jamshedpur in the second-half as they scored two goals to kill the game in the space of five minutes. First, Boris Singh was clipped inside the box by Marko Leskovic to hand the Men of Steel another penalty. Stewart stepped up and doubled his tally from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way again.

Chima then took the game away from Kerala after Boris sent in a low cross for the Nigerian to fire home on the half volley. Ritwik Das then tried his luck from distance, seeing Gill out of his line but the ball went onto the roof of the goal as Owen Coyle's men called the shots with elan.

Thrilled with the result, Jamshedpur FC head coach Owen Coyle said Greg Stewart and Boris Singh, everyone were outstanding. Greg is certainly the best player in the league. "We scored three and could’ve scored more than that and, of course, I’ve got to say, we’ve won against a very good Kerala side who I believe will be in the top four. They’ve got an outstanding coach, very good players, and Kerala are tough nut for anybody to crack," he added.

On Chima, Owen said he (Chima) is a wonderful player, not because he scores goals but what he brings to the team. The touch, the kick, everything was brilliant from the lad.."It’s important that you’re consistent, both in your performances on the pitch and off the pitch. Chima an outstanding player, we’ve got Greg on the front, some amazing wingers down the sides, Jamshedpur is a very exciting team and Chima is playing a very big part in it."