Mumbai City FC suffered their first loss of the season, going down 3-2 in a hard-fought battle against Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. Despite stunning goals from Nikolaos Karelis and Yoëll Van Nieff, the Islanders fell short of completing a late comeback.
A high-octane first half saw both teams pressing forward with intent, creating multiple chances within the first 15 minutes. Nikolaos Karelis broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a venomous strike from outside the box, giving Mumbai City FC the lead. Bipin Singh followed up with two shots, and Lallianzuala Chhangte added an attempt within five minutes as the Islanders pushed to double their advantage.
The home side found their equalizer in the 36th minute when Imran Khan delivered a precise cross from the right flank, allowing Jordan Murray to head it into the net. Just before halftime, Jamshedpur FC won a free kick, and Javi Hernandez curled in a left-footed strike to make it 2-1 for the hosts.
Mumbai City FC responded strongly in the second half, dominating possession and completing twice as many passes as Jamshedpur FC. However, Jamshedpur extended their lead in the 50th minute when Seiminlen Doungel set up Javi Hernandez in the box, allowing him to score his second goal of the night and push the scoreline to 3-1.
In a bid to turn the game around, Mumbai City FC made a triple substitution, bringing on Vikram Partap Singh, Brandon Fernandes, and Noufal PN. Their persistence paid off in the 77th minute when Yoëll Van Nieff caught the Jamshedpur defense off guard with a left-footed curler, mirroring Karelis' earlier strike and narrowing the gap to 3-2.
The Islanders relentlessly pressed for an equalizer in the final minutes, showcasing their determination and attacking intent. Noufal PN tested Albino Gomes in the 88th minute but was denied, as Jamshedpur FC held on to secure all three points.
Mumbai City FC will now look to bounce back with a win as they prepare to host Bengaluru FC in their first home match of the season on Wednesday, 2nd October.
