ISL 5: Chennaiyin FC sink further low after 3-1 loss at Jamshedpur

Defending champions Chennaiyin FC’s worst run in the Indian Super League extended to another match following the 3-1 defeat to Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Sunday.

In eight matches, the two-time champions have lost six. And with two draws and one victory – that came in the last fixture against Pune – the current league winners are lingering at the ninth position just above Delhi Dynamos, who are at the bottom on goal difference.

Pablo Morgado put the home side ahead in the 14^th minute while Carlos Calvo added a second from the spot after Jerry Lalrinzuala brought Sumeet Passi down inside the box. A penalty was also given in Chennaiyin’s favour from which Raphael Augusto pulled one back but Mario Arques nailed the victory three minutes later heading home from a corner.

Jamshedpur jumped to third in the point table led by Goa (16) and are on 14 points after nine games.

.@JamshedpurFC return to winning ways on home soil to rise up the #HeroISL standings, while @ChennaiyinFC fall to their sixth defeat of the season.

More videos: https://t.co/8jtqJIjojH#ISLRecap #LetsFootball #FanBannaPadega #JAMCHE pic.twitter.com/t0JRm9z98d

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 25, 2018

The home team enjoyed a greater share of ball possession right from the start and went 1-0 up inside 14 minutes when Morgado rifled a ferocious volley into the net after Calvo’s free-kick was only half cleared by Mailson Alves.

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It took another 14 minutes for Jamshedpur to get their second goal following Jerry’s reckless tackle on Passi. Karanjit Singh produced a brilliant save to parry Michael Soosairaj’s curling effort into the post. But Passi was close to scoring from the rebound when Jerry brought the young striker down to give away a cheap penalty.

Calvo stood up and sent Karanjit the wrong way to double the lead for his team even as it looked to be another long night for the defending champions.

Jerry was hurled off at half-time and Chennaiyin coach John Gregory introduced Tondoba Singh at left-back. It did little good to the visitors, who were awarded a similar penalty like the one they had conceded after Bikas Jairu brought Gregory Nelson down in the 67^th minute.

Raphael Augusto left home custodian Subrata Paul stranded on goal to pull one back for his side but it mattered little because three minutes later Arques restored Jamshedpur’s two-goal advantage.

The Spaniard leapt the highest to head home compatriot Calvo’s corner in the 71^st minute and helped record Jamshedpur’s second win at home and third overall.