Jamshedpur FC head coach Aidy Boothroyd wants to finish off the season on a high after winning against reigning champions Hyderabad FC by 3-2 at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday. It has been a forgettable season for the previous edition’s League Shield champions as they have registered only four wins in 19 matches.
Meanwhile, the penultimate match in the season for Jamshedpur FC was a roller-coaster one. The Nizam’s talisman Bartholomew Ogbeche continued his good form as he found the back of the net in the 12th minute to put the home team in front.
However, the visitors responded quickly as Ritwik Das scored the equalizer after 10 minutes. Subsequently, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored from the spot whereas Daniel Chukwu scored in the 29th minute. Ergo, the tourists scored thrice in an interval of seven minutes as they were at their best.
Ogbeche got the consolation goal in the 79th minute but Jamshedpur’s first-half performance was enough for them to seal three points.
“It was a very difficult game, Hyderabad FC made a lot of changes and it was important for us to keep the integrity of the league by our performance. We did everything we could to win, creating a couple of outright chances to win it in the second half. It was important to get a win. It has been a long season, but getting seven points from the last three games is good. We want to finish the season in a strong manner,” Boothroyd said in the official post-match press conference.
On the other hand, Daniel Chukwu is regaining his form as he scored his fifth goal of the season in the 18th match he played for Jamshedpur FC.
“Daniel is one of the most unsung heroes in the league. He gives his best every time and holds the ball while doing the unselfish stuff on the pitch. He is a team player, and I am very happy for him and the boys, especially after tonight’s win,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC will play their last league stage match against Odisha FC, who are in contention to qualify for the playoff stages. However, Aidy Boothroyd’s team will look to be the party spoilers and will want to finish their season on a winning note.
“We will be in the game to win it. In the home fixture, which was the first game of the season, we were unlucky to lose 2-3 against Odisha FC. My players will look to get revenge at the Kalinga Stadium to win the game,” Boothroyd concluded.
