Jamshedpur FC 1-1 Chennaiyin FC: 3 Reasons why the visitors only managed a draw | ISL 2019-20

Chennaiyin FC and Jamshedpur FC played out a cagey affair at the JRD Tata Sports Complex as the game ended deadlocked at 1-1. The draw meant that the hosts squandered an opportunity to go level with ATK at the top of the ISL table and now remain in 4th spot, tied on points with FC Goa.

The game started off in patchy fashion with both sides looking sloppy on the ball. However, the visitors settled a lot quicker as they mounted a few attacks down the hosts’ flanks.

In the 26th minute, the away side nudged ahead when Nerijus Valskis turned expertly inside the box before clinically finishing past Subrata Pal. Jamshedpur tried to find an immediate equaliser but they failed to do so, meaning that the visitors went into the break enjoying a one-goal cushion.

After the restart, Jamshedpur looked to impose themselves on the encounter but their lack of offensive prowess reared its head quite often. However, they were accorded a huge slice of luck when Isaac Vanmalsawma’s shot took a massive deflection off Farukh Choudhary’s arm to nestle into the net.

Here is a look at three reasons why Chennaiyin could only manage a stalemate.

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#3 Nerijus Valskis continues his rich vein of form

Valskis scored the opener

At the start of the 2019-20 season, Chennaiyin failed to make the net bulge in their opening four encounters. Subsequently, they mustered only a point with that result coming against an equally off-colour Mumbai City FC.

In the process, their offensive firepower was cast under the scanner with the jury out on their ability to keep producing the goods regularly and of course, their suitability to the ISL.

However, since a rather manic evening at the Marina Arena on the 25th of November, the side have looked much better in the attacking third, a transformation that has come about courtesy the performances of a certain Nerijus Valskis.

The Lithuanian came into the encounter against Jamshedpur FC having scored 3 goals in his past two games, a tally that included an impressive brace against Odisha FC. Unsurprisingly, the onus was on the striker to come up trumps, especially as Chennaiyin hoped to correct their wretched record on the road.

And, Valskis rose to the occasion as he turned in a brilliant display functioning as the focal point for the visitors. On countless occasions, the Marina Machans hoofed the ball long and into the Lithuanian. Fortunately for them though, he held the ball up adroitly and brought his teammates into play.

Additionally, his movement was exemplary as he created space for himself several times, a trait that ultimately allowed him to pop up with the opener.

After Rafael Crivellaro trapped the ball near the edge of the box, Valskis got in between Memo Moura and Tiri, thereby offering the Brazilian a passing avenue. Thereafter, he took the ball in his stride, sorted his feet and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner.

Thus, through the course of a rather scrappy encounter, the Lithuanian had provided a rare moment of quality. And, with those being at a premium so far for Chennaiyin, the importance of his display couldn’t be overstated enough.

#2 The referee masks Jamshedpur FC’s attacking ineptness

Farukh Choudhary

For the contest against Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur were missing the services of Piti and their talismanic striker, Sergio Castel. With the latter injured, the hosts decided to field Sumeet Passi in a slightly unfamiliar role as the target man. And unsurprisingly, Jamshedpur failed to get going throughout the game.

For large stretches, their offensive play looked devoid of ideas, meaning that they lacked the requisite incision to scythe through the visitors’ defence. Though Farukh sparkled intermittently, the lack of support around him was discernible as the hosts failed to create anything of note.

CK Vineeth, despite seeming promising, again failed to turn in a consistent display whereas Passi also looked a fish out of water in his new role. And, to add to their woes, Noe Acosta went off with a suspected shoulder injury as the brunt of the creative responsibility fell on Indian shoulders.

More worryingly though, in Castel’s absence, Jamshedpur failed to display an alternative game-plan. They kept pinging long passes hoping for someone to make them stick while their choice of crosses from a promising position also left an awful lot to be desired.

Consequently, the majority of half-chances they created were from set-pieces and long throw-ins.

And, while they eventually managed to restore parity courtesy a scruffy equaliser, which also included Farukh’s rendition of the ‘Hand of God’, the match on Monday posed a lot more questions than answers.

#1 Chennaiyin compress the game effectively

Anirudh Thapa

Before the game at the Furnace, Chennayin had won a grand total of 0 away encounters since a 4-2 triumph against FC Pune City on the 6th of November, 2018. Moreover, they’d lost each of their previous 7 away fixtures, meaning that they had to massively buck the trend against Jamshedpur FC. And, they nearly accorded their new manager, Owen Coyle a perfect welcome gift with a tactically astute display.

In light of the hosts’ passing attributes, Chennaiyin were willing to drop off just a touch and were inclined to protect the spaces in between the lines. The above enabled them to cut out passing options through the middle, thereby forcing Jamshedpur to switch play and cross the ball.

The tactic worked a charm for the majority of the game as the home side’s deliveries from the flanks were quite sub-standard whereas the likes of Eli Sabia and Lucian Goian weren’t troubled by Passi inside the box.

Additionally, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Thoi Singh tracked back diligently to ensure that the opposition’s full-backs didn’t have a huge impact offensively.

As for the middle third, Anirudh Thapa and Masih Saighani got through their fair share of defensive work whereas they were also composed enough to pick their passes and not be too gung-ho in attack.

The strategy that there were at least 6 men behind the ball at all times, thereby exploiting Jamshedpur’s lack of creative edge significantly.

Thus, it seemed a bit of a travesty that the visitors weren’t able to come away with all three points tucked in their kitty.