Jamshedpur FC Owen Coyle was delighted after his team defeated table-toppers Hyderabad FC by 3-0 despite being one man down in the 63rd match of the Hero Indian Super League at the Athletic Stadium, Bambolim on Tuesday. As a result, Jamshedpur FC not only qualified for the semifinal stages for the first time in the history of the tournament but also clinched the top place in the points table after their 11th win of the season.
Chinglensana Singh scored his own goal in the fifth minute of the game whereas Peter Hartley was able to double the team’s lead in the 28th minute. Subsequently, Daniel Chima Chukwu put the game to bed as he found the back of the net in the 65th minute.
Coyle was delighted after his team scored the third goal as he said in the post-match press conference, “Absolutely, I mean Hyderabad FC being number one on the table for a long time for a reason. Because they have an outstanding team and they’re got some wonderful players. But you’re right 2-0 has been a dangerous scoreline. To get that third goal and even though we were down to ten men. We could have added the fourth goal also as we were the team with the best chances even with 10 men. But that being said, players were outstanding for us against a very good team with an outstanding coach. They obviously got into the playoffs last week. And obviously, it gives us all a chance to fight for that number one spot. To do that, we had to deliver the performances late tonight. And we did that, now we have given ourselves a chance of being in a top position”.
Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC talisman Greg Stewart could not play but Alex Lima was able to fill in the big shoes of his teammate. Coyle heaped praise on Lima and other players like Chukwu and Jordan Murray.
Coyle added, “Alex Lima is an outstanding player. Alex had been compromised a little bit by being on the bench because obviously we’re going back to the with winning eleven in most of the matches and we’ve had that winning run and obviously Daniel Chima has been outstanding upfront with Greg behind him. Alex and Jordan Murray were not quite a hundred percent fit yet. But when they stepped out today, obviously they were outstanding tonight. Alex was the best player on the field, I know his qualities he’s a real team player. And then it was good to see him doing that.”
The 55-year old coach added qualifying for the semifinal was the team’s first aim and now they will look to finish at the top of the standings.
He concluded, “Well, that’s the target. Now the first target was to get into the playoffs because this club have never been in the playoff. I mean, when I took over this club, the club have taken five points from the last 10 games of the previous campaign, so that tells you how much work to do. Even last year that wasn’t my team I inherited players with all due respect already on contracts around my 10 players good players maybe, but not the way I want to put my team together. So this year I’ve been able to go and get the ones I want. This is year we’re doing very well, we need to keep it going. We need to focus and concentrate and keep bringing up the quality. It’s an outstanding result tonight for sure”.
Jamshedpur FC will next face Odisha FC on Friday at the Athletic Stadium, Bambolim.
