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Jamshedpur FC and Kerala Blasters stepped onto the battleground to take their first leg of the playoffs underway and put everything on the line to be the side to end the first half of the playoffs in their favour at the Tilak Maidan.
Despite putting forth a strong approach, the Kerala Blasters side got the win with a slim lead to take an advantage in the second leg with a goal in their hand. The two sides met each other for the final time in the 2021-22 season to settle it out as to who’s going to be the side to make their place in the finals.
The Men of Steel took the game underway and looked determined to cover the 1 goal deficit that they had but the Tuskers were the side who were more dominant on the ball as they came up with some very close chances with one of the opportunities landing in the back of the net, but the official was quick to deny the goal as he ruled it offside. With both sides going at each other from the very first whistle of the game, the Kerala Blasters’ side increased their already existing advantage to make it 2 as Adrina Luna came through with a brilliant finish at the end of a tactical play. The Uruguayan midfielder received the ball in the middle of the pitch and performed a dummy to beat the Jamshedpur defender which gifted him some space to take his shot at goal as he went on to place a clean finish into the bottom corner which the goalkeeper on the Jamshedpur side, TP Rehenesh could not get his hands on despite leaping to parry the ball away.
After the advantage was doubled, the Men of Steel did not back down as they pushed towards the Kerala Blasters’ box with full intentions to get themselves back into the game and in contention for the spot in the finals. One of the plays ended into the back of the net as Chima took a brilliant touch on his chest to a lobbed ball into the box and finished it into the back of the net to give the Jamshedpur side some hope, but unfortunately, the official denied the goal as Chima was ahead of the defensive line when he received the pass deeming it as offside; the Men of Steel returned to being in a 2 goal deficit. The first period of the game came to an end as the Tuskers sat on a 1 goal lead and a 2 goal aggregate advantage while the Men of Steel were yet to break the deadlock and get past the Kerala Blasters’ compact defence.
The second 45′ minutes of the game kicked-off as the Jamshedpur squad pushed with full intention to get the desired goal to get back into the game as they took charge of the pitch with more ball possession and they rained down multiple attacks aimed straight at the Kerala Blasters’ goal. The numerous opportunities created by the Jamshedpur side finally came into fruition as they pulled one back in for themselves through a corner kick as Pronay Halder was there in the right place at the right time; he poked a free ball through a deflection into the goal which brought hopes back into the Jamshedpur FC side.
The Men of Steel with the needed boost unleashed tons of attack with some close calls as they aimed to land the ball into the back of the net but the Blaster’s defensive line left no stone unturned to let any chance slip through and the man on goal, Prabhsukhan Gill was strong on the goal line and dealt with every ball that could have been a potential threat to their earned advantage.
The game grew intense by the minute as the two squads went at each other with a little aggression and harsh plays, tackles and fouls. The ball possession was fully controlled by the Men of Steel as they desperately required one goal to tie the scoreline on aggregate but were constantly held back by the Tuskers who had parked the bus at the back. A close call came as Greg took a dangerous freekick from right outside the box, aimed straight at goal but the Kerala Blasters’ shot stopper was quick on his feet to grab the ball and continued to keep the Jamshedpur attacking line-up from scoring. The fixture came to an end as Kerala Blasters celebrated their entry into the finals, while on the other hand, the Jamshedpur men were disheartened as their 2021-22 campaign of the Hero ISL came to an end.
Despite an unfortunate end to the season, the lads in the Red and Blue kit gave their everything for the club and the fans on and off the field in this game and throughout the entire season to bring a bright smile on the beloved fan’s faces as the Jamshedpur squad won’t be heading home empty handed, as they are the proud winners of Hero League Shield, the club’s first piece of silverware.
With lots of positives and milestones to return home with, the Men Of Steel will be back in the next season with even more heart, determination and their never-ending passion to produce another memorable season of the Red Miners.
