How Jamshedpur and Khalid Jamil shut down Ajaraie and stunned NorthEast – A tactical deep dive
How Jamshedpur and Khalid Jamil shut down Ajaraie and stunned NorthEast – A tactical deep dive
In the build-up to the second Indian Super League (ISL) knockout, all logic pointed to one outcome: a NorthEast United (NEUFC) victory.
The Highlanders were the second-highest scorers in the regular season. Jamshedpur, by contrast, had conceded 43 goals — the league’s second-worst defensive record. Over their two league meetings, NEUFC had demolished Jamshedpur 7-0. And then there was Alaaeddine Ajaraie — the competition’s top scorer with 23 goals, 10 more than the next best.
Yet, when the final whistle blew in Shillong, it was Jamshedpur celebrating a stunning 2-0 win. Nothing about this scoreline and result should have made sense, yet as the final whistle blew after a bruising 102 minutes, it did. The script had been torn up, and Khalid Jamil’s men had rewritten it with grit, discipline, and tactical execution.
Not for Juan Pedro Benali, though, the man who had masterminded NorthEast’s revival. The NEUFC head coach, fondly nicknamed ‘Don’, who in his mob-boss-like shiny leather jacket, stood with his hands in his pockets, with no strings left to pull.
His star man Ajaraie was left shattered on the turf. Nothing would come off for the Moroccan, not for lack of trying but largely due to Jamshedpur and Khalid Jamil’s design.
Jamshedpur came into the game as clear underdog. It had lost seven of its 12 away games and was forced to start Pranoy Halder — an injury-riddled midfielder with just 200 minutes of football this season — at centre-back. Yet, it played like a team with something to prove.
“A lot of people thought we were going to come here and lose,” Stephen Eze said post-match. “We approached this game as wounded lions. We lost to them twice, and we could have lost thrice today. But we talked about having to fight and earn respect.”
That sense of resolve shaped Jamshedpur’s performance. It didn’t just sit deep; it disrupted, suffocated, and frustrated NorthEast into submission. Its 30.8% possession and 58% passing accuracy were the lowest of its 25-game season. It wasn’t pretty in any sense, but it was effective.
Shutting down Ajaraie was Jamshedpur’s top priority, and it executed it to perfection. Every time the Moroccan forward got the ball, he found himself crowded out. In the first half, he managed just two touches inside the box. He had five more in the second, but seven of his eight shots were off target — a testament to how effectively Jamshedpur cut off his angles.
It was a collective effort. Jordan Murray pressed from the front, Javi Hernandez tracked back, and Mobashir Rahman worked tirelessly in midfield. Even Halder, playing out of position, stuck to his role and ensured that Ajaraie never had a moment’s peace.
Benali had weeks to prepare for this contest. He knew Jamshedpur’s setup, knew its defensive frailties, and yet, his side had no contingency plan when Plan A failed. Ajaraie was its battering ram, but when the door didn’t budge, NorthEast simply kept pushing rather than finding another way in.
Maybe if Macarton Luis Nickson hadn’t failed to trap the ball inside the box, NorthEast could have scored an early goal to draw Jamshedpur out of its comfort zone. But once Jamshedpur rode its luck to withstand NorthEast’s fast start, it started to settle into its shape and frustrate its attackers.
Benali dismissed Jamshedpur’s goals as ‘lucky’ and a result of ‘being caught out’ at the death, while ignoring Jamshedpur’s obvious strengths. Jamshedpur had the second-most set-piece goals in the league, yet NEUFC played into its hands.
The opening goal came from a long throw-in — a weapon Jamshedpur had used effectively all season, scoring four goals from it. Redeem Tlang’s wayward diagonal pass conceded an unnecessary throw-in, and Ashutosh Mehta’s missile throw created chaos. Nestor Albiach’s awkward clearance fell to Eze, who rifled the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Despite enjoying 76% possession, NEUFC’s approach grew increasingly predictable. With Jamshedpur denying space in central areas, NorthEast resorted to launching hopeful crosses — 42 in total, its highest in a single game this season. But without a true aerial presence, these deliveries were easily repelled.
Even when Jamshedpur was reduced to 10 men for the final 12 minutes, NorthEast lacked the creativity to break it down. Its dominance was superficial — 14 shots meant little when few were of high quality. Albino Gomes’ goal was rarely threatened.
As NorthEast pushed forward desperately, Jamshedpur delivered the final punch. In the 99th minute, Hernandez found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, calmly sitting him down before rolling the ball into the net. Game over.
Jamil thrives in the shadows. His teams are often overlooked, his tactics dismissed as basic. But time and again, he proves that discipline and resilience can level the playing field. This was a statement win — one that forced everyone to take notice.
Now, Jamshedpur faces an even greater challenge: a semifinal clash with League Shield winner Mohun Bagan. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that Jamil and his men won’t mind being written off once again.
Published on Mar 31, 2025
