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The JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur will host its first ever Indian Super League (ISL) encounter as league debutants Jamshedpur FC welcome defending champions ATK on Friday. The hosts were involved in two goalless draws against NorthEast United FC and Kerala Blasters FC in their opening fixtures and will need to be more prolific in front of goal if they want to pick up their first three points of the season.
Visitors ATK, meanwhile, were picked apart in their previous fixture against FC Pune City and conceded four times for the first time in an ISL match. The league’s most successful club have been hit hard by injuries and will be keen to pick up a first win of the season having also drawn their opener against Kerala. The two-time champions will need to show more attacking edge and penetration against Jamshedpur if they want to notch up their first win of the campaign.
KEY PLAYERS
Kervens Belfort (Jamshedpur FC)
The Haitian has already shown flashes of his brilliance that made him such a threat throughout last season. A strong and pacey runner with the ball, he can cause consternation in any defensive backline. He missed a golden opportunity for a winner in the dying minutes of Jamshedpur’s last match, and will want to make amends against ATK.
Njazi Kuqi (ATK)
The Finnish striker has been one of the go-to players for ATK in attack. He tends to create chances most of the time with the ball at his feet and is a towering presence on the pitch. Kuqi plays the role of target-man and is one of the few members of ATK’s attack that posed a threat to the Pune defence in Kolkata’s last match.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS
Jamshedpur FC
Steve Coppell will look to implement a traditional 4-4-2 formation that allows Jamshedpur to attack, while keeping the opposition in check.
Goalkeeper: Subrata Paul
Defenders: Shouvik Ghosh, Anas Edathodika, Tiri, Souvik Chakrabarti
Midfielders: Jerry Mawhmingthanga, Mehtab Hossain, Trindade Goncalves, Sameehg Doutie
Forwards: Izu Azuka, Kervens Belfort
Midfielder Mehtab Hossain on Jamshedpur’s first Hero ISL match: “Firstly, all of us in the squad are grateful that Tata picked us to play for the side. Secondly, we are all very excited. It would be a privilege to play in front of Jharkhand’s audience, because they are sport lovers.”
ATK
ATK head coach Teddy Sheringham may look to cancel out Coppell’s approach by utilizing the 4-4-2 formation as well.
Goalkeeper: Debjit Majumder
Defenders: Keegan Pereira, Tom Thorpe, Jordi Figueras Montel, Prabir Das
Midfielders: Rupert Nongrum, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Conor Thomas, Hitesh Sharma
Forwards: Zequinha, Njazi Kuqi
Sheringham on his team’s mindset ahead of the encounter: “Losing 4-1 last week was very, very disappointing, but you have to brush that off and get ready for the next game. I know it’s going to be as difficult as the the last game (against FC Pune City), but we’re prepared for it. So we’re looking forward to the game.
KEY STAT
11 players in the Jamshedpur roster have either their roots in Bengal, or have played for a Kolkata club or ATK previously
