Jamshedpur: Wellington Priori’s 50th minute stunner from an overhead kick was the difference as Jamshedpur FC edged out NorthEast United 1-0 at the JRD Tata Complex here on Saturday.
The victory lifted them to third with 25 points from 15 games, the same as second placed FC Pune City who have a greater goal-difference and have played a match less. NorthEast meanwhile continued to remain ninth, standing on 11 points after 14 games.
Priori’s perfect overhead-kick was startling and came from a player least expected to do so. Izu Azuka had put in a long-throw which found the Brazilian lurking in the box. What followed next was unfathomed for as Priori controlled the ball with his thigh before unleashing a perfect overhead kick that shook the NorthEast net.
NorthEast United though had their own chances and should have gone ahead when Robert Lalthlamuana found Seiminlen Doungel with a cross, but the forward’s header was wayward.
The best chance for the ‘Highlanders’ to level matters came in the 80th minute when Nirmal Chhetri couldn’t keep his header on target from point-blank range after a flick on from a corner. Jamshedpur’s Farukh Choudhary on the other was one-on-one against TP Rehenesh in the 94th minute, but the goalkeeper saved it brilliantly.
There were better chances to come though, and NorthEast will regret not making them count. Marcinho and Doungel combined and the latter took a shot at the near post which was turned away by Subrata Paul. The goalkeeper was called up again when Marcinho cut in with a couple of stepovers and let loose with his left foot, with the Indian custodian up to the task again to keep him at bay with a strong right palm.
