Mohammedan SC’s woes in their inaugural ISL season continued as the Black-and-White brigade saw their winless run extend to six consecutive matches after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against Jamshedpur FC. Despite a resilient first-half performance, Andrey Chernyshov’s men faltered in the second half, leaving them second from the bottom of the table.
The absence of midfield stalwarts Alexis Gomez and Mirjalol Kasimov was keenly felt as both players were suspended, having accumulated four yellow cards each. Their absence disrupted the Kolkata side’s midfield structure, leaving gaps that Jamshedpur FC exploited effectively.
Mohammed Sanan opened the scoring for Jamshedpur FC, while Javier Siverio and Stephen Eze added to the tally. Mohammed Irshad managed to score a consolation goal for the visitors, but Khalid Jamil’s team held their defensive shape to deny Mohammedan any further comeback.
Mohammedan SC had a golden chance to reduce the deficit in the seventh minute of added time when Pratik Chaudhary fouled Cesar Manzoki inside the box. However, Brazilian forward Franca’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Albino Gomes at full stretch, denying Mohammedan any late resurgence.
.@AlbinoGomes07 showing why he has the most number of penalty saves in #ISL history! 👏🔝#JFCMSC #LetsFootball #JamshedpurFC #AlbinoGomes | @JamshedpurFC @JioCinema @Sports18 pic.twitter.com/BMfa5zvduf
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 2, 2024
After the match, Chernyshov admitted that his team needs to improve.
“I said before, in football, you need to have quality and you need to be lucky,” he remarked. He also expressed dissatisfaction with certain players’ performances. “But I am not worried about the result. I am worried some players did not perform to our expectations. They need to bring more to the matches and play with more confidence.”
Mohammedan SC’s decision to rely on the core of their I-League-winning squad has backfired, as many players have struggled to replicate their previous form in the ISL.
The team next face Punjab FC on December 6. If they fail to secure a point, they will match Punjab FC’s record for the worst start by debutants, with Punjab having managed only five points from 10 games last season. However, Punjab staged an impressive comeback in the second half of that campaign, pulling off stunning results against stronger teams to finish eighth.
For Mohammedan SC, such a turnaround seems daunting but not impossible. Chernyshov, who is already under scrutiny, has significant challenges to address. Key reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window could be pivotal in strengthening the squad.
Defensive frailty has been a major concern. While Gaurav Bora, Florent Ogier, and Joseph Adjei (recently recovered from injury) show potential, the backline lacks cohesion and compactness.
Goal-scoring woes compound the issue. Mohammedan SC have managed just five goals in ISL 2024-25, tied with Jamshedpur FC for the joint-lowest tally for a debut team after this many games. Strikers Franca and Manzoki have underperformed, leaving the club management facing difficult decisions ahead of the transfer window.
Fan frustration has flooded social media, with many criticising the team’s performances. Currently second from the bottom of the table, Mohammedan desperately need a strong showing against Punjab FC to revive their campaign and restore some pride.
Despite the challenges, Chernyshov remained optimistic. “Now, we need to analyse this match and prepare for the next one,” he said. “In a few days, we’ll have another away game, and we need to be ready.”
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