ISL 2024-25: Eze shines for Men of Steel as Jamshedpur holds Mohun Bagan SG to 1-1 draw

ISL 2024-25: Eze shines for Men of Steel as Jamshedpur holds Mohun Bagan SG to 1-1 draw

Jamshedpur FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 here on Friday.

The league leader took the lead in the first half, courtesy of a goal from Subhasish Bose while Jamshedpur FC clawed its way into the game when Stephen Eze found the equaliser at the hour mark.

With this draw, the Men of Steel propelled to the second spot, eight points behind (28) the Mariners (36) with a game in hand, having player 15 as compared to the 16 of the Kolkata-based team.

The Mariners had two glorious opportunities to take the lead in the 17th minute in quick succession.

Jamie Maclaren latched onto a long ball in the penalty area and just as he was to hit the target, Eze cleared it away. Moments later, Jason Cummings found Liston Colaco with a through ball, but before the winger could square it past Albino Gomes in goal, Eze cleared the lines once again.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s persistence paid off in the 25th minute when Tom Aldred rose the highest to head the ball from Cummings’ corner. Subhashis pounced upon the Aldred header and calmly flicked it past Gomes to hand the lead to the visitors.

Cummings almost doubled the lead for the visitors in the 36th minute when Maclaren found him with a through ball. The Australian was in behind the Jamshedpur FC backline but Eze blocked his eventual effort.

After the first half, Khalid Jamil decided to change his playing style as he made wholesale changes. Sourav Das, Imran Khan and Lazar Cirkovic made way for Javier Siverio, Mobashir Rahman and Seiminlen Doungel for the hosts as they opted for a more direct style of football.

The game took a drastic turn in the 60th minute when Eze drove past multiple Mohun Bagan defenders with a piercing run. The Nigerian entered the penalty area and worked his way past three opposition defenders before pulling the trigger and finding the bottom right corner past Vishal Kaith.

The equaliser poured life into the home crowd and brought momentum to their gameplay.

The Mariners almost found the winner when Petratos squared it to Liston in space but his subsequent effort was tipped over by Gomes.

Late in the game, Alberto Rodriguez had a great opportunity to head it home from a set-piece but his effort was a whisker away from target. Both teams threw bodies forward but were unable to find the decisive goal.