The in-form Jamshedpur FC defeated the visiting Hyderabad FC 2-1 in their Indian Super League (ISL) match at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Monday.
A minute of silence was observed before the game honouring industrialist Ratan Tata, who passed away earlier this month.
Jamshedpur FC jumped to the second spot in the league table after their win over the strugglers. While leaders Bengaluru FC got 13 points after 5 rounds, JFC have 12 from as many games.
Rei Tachikawa (29') and Jordan Murray (44') for the eventual winners while Cy Goddard (50') got one back for the visitors.
The match started with both teams proceeding cautiously. In the ninth minute, Jamshedpur FC notched their first proper attack when Imran Khan sent in a delightful cross into the Hyderabad FC penalty box. However, Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduate Mohammed Sanan, to whom the ball was intended, fell a yard short. The very same minute saw Hyderabad FC inspire their first move of the game too.
Chunga Hmar played a through ball to Cy Goddard and the latter's cross fell into Lenny Rodrigues' feet after a deflection from Pratik Chaudhari. Rodrigues meanwhile, punched it straight into Albino Gomes' palm.
In the 29th minute, the Men of Steel earned their much-desired lead. Sanan crossed a ball from the left which fell into Imran Khan's feet after a missed header from Alex Saji. His feeble shot hit the post but Rei Tachikawa was there to turn the ball home.
Five minutes later, the Japanese midfielder could have added his second of the night. His fiery shot was successfully punched away by Arshdeep Singh. A minute later, Khalid Jamil's side got another opportunity but Sanan's attempt was inches away from target.
In the 41st minute, Hyderabad FC could have levelled the scoreline. Goddard put a delightful pass on the plate to Chunga whose curling attempt was touched out by the stretching hand of Gomes.
Just as when Hyderabad FC were trying to get back into the game, Jordan Murray extinguished that fire. In the 44th minute, Sanan sent in a pitch-perfect through ball onto Murray, who calmly chipped it over an advancing Singh into the goal.