Murray stuns Goa with stoppage time winner for Jamshedpur

Margao: Jordan Murray stunned the home crowd with a stoppage time strike as Jamshedpur FC fought hard for a 2-1 win against FC Goa in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Tuesday.

Goa started on the front foot, creating several chances in the first five minutes itself. But it was an error from goalkeeper Albino Gomes that allowed Goa to take the lead. It was that man Armando Sadiku, again, as the striker scored in his seventh consecutive game since the start of the season.

Going into the dressing room, the goal in the third minute of first half added time should have dealt Jamshedpur a huge psychological blow. However, the visitors proved they had stronger resolve as Javier Siverio (73’) won and scored a penalty, while Murray rose from the bench to silence the hosts in the closing stages of the match.

Goa coach Manolo Marquez was understandably frustrated with the defeat as he stormed off the field, after shaking hands with a delighted Jamshedpur coach Khalid Jamil. Given what they did in the first 45 minutes, the hosts should have pocketed all three points.

With a starting 11 that had several surprises – Udanta Singh at right back, Brison Fernandes on the wing, Dejan Drazic as attacking midfielder and Jay Gupta on the bench -- Goa started on the front foot. Inside the first five minutes, the hosts created four clear chances.

Dejan was the first to find himself one-on-one with the keeper but his attempt from an acute angle was blocked by the keeper with his feet. Then there was a goalline clearance; Armando’s header was blocked well by Albino, diving to his left, and Udanta’s grounder was parried away.

Goa then slackened and Jamshedpur, after surviving that torrid opening spell, grew into the game. There were few chances for the visitors, though. Captain Javi Hernandez’s ambitious lob from almost the half-way mark that sailed just over the post was the closest they got.

With a minute left to be played in the first half, Sadiku struck from outside the box. It was Rowllin Borges who spotted him, pleading for the ball. It was given, and the Albanian striker did his reputation no harm as his grounder struck defender Stephen Eze’s legs and then grazed past the hands of the keeper, into the nets.

Albino should have clearly done better. Early in the second session, he was nervous again, this time Dejan’s shot somehow being spilled outside the goal.

With the substitution of Dejan, replaced by Borja Herrera, Goa lost its attacking bite.

For Jamshedpur, the introduction of Murray in the second session meant Jamil resorted to type. Long balls forward for the two strikers created confusion in the Goa danger zone. When Murray tested Laxmikant Kattimani from distance, the keeper did well to respond with a diving save.

It was Siverio who brought his team back in the 73rd minute. With Goa captain Odei Onaindia tucking at his jersey, the striker went to the ground, and the referee had no hesitation pointing at the spot. Siverio was quickly up on his feet and equalised by sending Kattimani the wrong way.

Goa felt the penalty was soft. The players, and the bench, protested but there was still time for more drama.

It happened in the third minute of added time as Murray picked up a ball –from a quickly-taken freekick – just outside the box, beat off challenge from Odei and Udanta, and then hammered it past a diving Kattimani.

Fatorda was left in disbelief.

In a season that started with possibly the worst attendance for a home game, this result would hurt even more.