A stunning long-range strike by substitute Ezequiel Vidal was not enough to salvage points for Punjab FC, as they fell 1-2 to Jamshedpur FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.
Jamshedpur’s goals came from Pratik Chaudhari and Javier Hernandez, with both strikes capitalizing on defensive lapses from Punjab.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 41st minute through Chaudhari, who made the most of a pinpoint corner delivered by Japan’s Rei Tachikawa. Rising above Punjab’s defenders, Chaudhari powered a header past goalkeeper Muheet Shabir to give Jamshedpur a 1-0 lead before halftime.
Jamshedpur doubled their advantage just three minutes after the restart, thanks to a moment of high pressing from Hernandez. Defender Ivan Novoselec played a risky back pass to Shabir, who failed to clear the ball effectively under pressure. His clearance deflected off Hernandez and rolled into the net, gifting Jamshedpur a 2-0 cushion.
Punjab, desperate to break their winless run, found a glimmer of hope in the 58th minute. Vidal, introduced as a substitute, produced a moment of brilliance with a thunderous left-footed strike from nearly 30 yards out. The ball rocketed into the bottom corner, leaving Jamshedpur’s goalkeeper with no chance.
Despite Punjab pushing forward in the final half-hour, their attack lacked the precision required inside the box. The defeat extends their winless streak to seven games, further complicating their league campaign.
Punjab had opportunities to make an impact early in the match but failed to capitalize. In the sixth minute, a misplaced pass from Khaiminthang Lhungdim allowed Imran Khan to pounce in a dangerous area. He quickly set up Javier Toro, who teed up Hernandez for a left-footed shot, but the attempt curled just wide of the post.
Jamshedpur’s defensive solidity and clinical finishing ultimately made the difference, while Punjab’s struggles in front of goal persisted.
With this victory, Jamshedpur inches up the ISL standings, while Punjab faces an uphill battle to turn their season around. Their next fixture will be crucial as they aim to break their frustrating winless streak.
