Another goal-less draw for JFC

Jamshedpur FC continued to remain goal-shy as it played out another goalless draw, this time against ATK, even though it had the advantage of playing at home here at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Friday.

The host continued to miss a genuine striker as it wasted numerous scoring opportunities.

Defending champion ATK did not have anything to cheer for as it continued to remain win-less for the third consecutive match.

JFC had a first look at goal as early as the second minute when Sameehg Doutie dodged past two ATK defenders before going down inside the box. But referee Santosh Kumar was not interested.

Next, it was the turn of Brazilian midfielder Memo who saw his long-ranger sailing over. ATK fielded towering Finn Jussi Jaaskelainen in goal, replacing Debjit Majumdar, who leaked four goals against FC Pune City in the last match.

The pitch was relayed with fresh turf ahead of the tournament, but it didn’t stand as big chunks of soil came up all across the park making life difficult for the players. The players on both sides found it difficult to move and control the ball.

The host had the best chance in the 27th minute when its winger Kervens Belfort tried a thundering shot, which came off an ATK defender.

Doutie pounced on the rebound and set up an onrushing Jerry Mawhmingthanga from the right. But the latter muffed up the chance finding the outside of the net. Jerry wasted another close chance in the 40th minute.

While JFC struggled to find the back of the net, ATK got the ball home in the 32nd minute but it was ruled off-side.

Things did not change much even after the break as both sides remained scrappy in the attacking third. The JFC, which looked more creative in the midfield with Mehtab Hossain and Memo doing good work in the middle, got another chance in the 56th minute when Farukh Choudhary’s effort from close was parried by Jaaskelainen.

Jamshedpur FC tallied three points from as many draws, while ATK remained in the ninth spot with two points from two draws and a loss.

The result: Jamshedpur FC 0 drew with ATK 0.