Jamshedpur FC played out yet another goalless draw against ATK in their first Hero Indian Super League (ISL) home match at the JRD TATA Sports Complex on Friday. Both teams’ search for their first win of the season continued and the Hero ISL debutants remain in search of their first goal as well.

The defending champions began on the front foot as they used their flanks to good effect to surge forward. However, as the game progressed, neither teams could get a foothold on the game, largely owing to the uneven pitch they were playing on.

Jerry Mawhmingthanga though, was a constant livewire throughout with his speedy runs. He had a half-chance in the 27th minute when his shot from an acute angle on the right hit the side-netting. However, it was ATK who had the first big chance of the match and thought they had taken the lead five minutes later when Hitesh Sharma turned the ball into the net after the Jamshedpur custodian Subrata Paul had spilled the ball following Zequinha’s shot. The youngster though was rightly flagged offside.

The 40th minute brought Jerry an almost identical chance as his first, but again his shot was off target. There was no further action in the opening period as the teams went into the break locked at 0-0. ATK then should have taken the lead 28 seconds into the second half after Prabir Das floated in a lovely ball to the centre, and Robin Singh needed just a decent touch to put the ball into the net. However, his touch was weak and right at custodian Paul, who gathered after a fumble.

Farukh Chaudhary fashioned the home team’s first chance of the second half in the 57th minute, but his shot brought out the first save of the night from ATK keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Kolkata midfielder Conor Thomas, who had been quiet for large phases of the match then came up with a ferocious shot from distance in the 71st minute, which was palmed away by Paul. That proved to be the last chance of any significance as Jamshedpur played out their third successive goalless draw.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: Jamshedpur FC and ATK

Swift moment of the match: Subrata Paul

Winning pass of the match: Prabir Das

Fittest player: Prabir Das

Emerging player: Jerry Mawhmingthanga

Hero of the match: Memo

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