The stage is all set for a mouth watering contest between Jamshedpur FC and Chennaiyin FC, that witnesses two ISL giants, both with the aspiration to start the season on the right foot, battle it out at the Tilak Maidan, in matchday 5 of the 7th edition of Hero Indian Super League.
The two time ISL champions Chennaiyin FC would go all in to bag all three points and start their season on a good note. But it ain’t gonna be so easy for the Super Machans to fulfill this desire, as they face their coach from the last season, Owen Coyle who wrote an absolute fairy tale with Chennaiyin FC last season after he took over the club in the middle of the 2019-20 season, when the situation of the team was not good at all.
Also they are going to face their star striker and their highest goal scorer from the last season, the Lithuanian Nerijus Valskis who was on complete fire last season and was one of the biggest reasons why chennaiyin FC finished second in the last season.
Blast from the past:
Last season the clash between these two respective teams saw the two teams sharing points with the final score of 1-1 in their first meeting. In the second meeting when the red miners made the trip to the southern coast, the match ended 4-1, in favour of the supermachans. In fact the six games played between these two teams in the last three seasons, saw 3 draws and a win ratio of 2:1, with Chennai FC having the upper hand.
Chennaiyin FC:
After a fairy tail 2019-20 ISL season, in which after a tacky start to the season, the two time ISL champions made an incredible comeback to finish fourth in the Indian super league and qualify for the playoffs.This season though they have let go some of the big names from their last season’s squad, but they have also made some commendable transfer and have managed to build a strong squad on paper.
On the goal they have retained their previous Season’s goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Defensively the team is really strong, with the likes of players such as Eli Sabia who is an absolute beast and also contributes attackingly, Enes Sipovic who is the first bosnian to ever play in the Indian top flight, the wing backs Jerry Lalrinzuala, Edwin Sydney Vanspaul and Reagan Singh have also shiwn their capability in the ISL before and have huge expectations on their shoulders and are very unlikely to be easily exploited.
The team also has a very strong midfield consisting of players such as Memo, Gurjinder Singh, Crivellaro who was on absolute fire last season, Chhangte, Anirudh Thapa. Whereas Isma and Jakub Sylvestr take in charge of the team’s attack.
Jamshedpur FC:
Last season was a disappointing campaign for the red miners, as their star players where ruled out due to injuries and they therefore finished 8th in the points table, which was there was position in the points table in the three seasons they played in the Indian Super League.
TP Rehnesh will be the preferred goalkeeper for the club this season. Peter Hartley, Narender Gahlot, Jitendra Singh, Ricky Lallawmawma,Laldinliana Renthlei make up the defence.
Their most valuable defender Stephen Eze would be missing this contest due to injury. Jamshedpur in defence will rely on young and local players tonight which is a great thing as the players will get the opportunity to perform on the big stage.The midfield is likely to be managed by players such as Amarjit Singh, Alex who is the club’s most valuable signing this season, with a transfer value of ₹4.1 crore.Mornoy who was one of the brightest players for Jamshedpur FC last season, Issac Vanmalsawma, Nicholas Fitzgerald who has plenty of experience in the A-League, Jackichand Singh.The attacking duties have been assigned to David Grande and Nerijus Valskis who has the highest amount of expectation, because of his performance last season where he finished the league as the joint top scorer.
Probable Starting 11:
Chennaiyin FC – Vishal Kaith; Reagan Singh, Eli Sabia, Enes Sipovic, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Anirudh Thapa; Esmael Goncalves, Rafael Crivellaro, Lallianzuala Chhangte; Jakub Sylvestr.
Jamshedpur FC- TP Rehenesh; Laldinliana Renthlei, Peter Hartley, Narendar Gahlot, Ricky Lallawmawma; Aitor Monroy, Amarjit Singh ; Jackichand Singh, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Alex Lima; Nerijus Valskis
With both teams having extraordinary players and a power packed squad, we can expect nothing more than a cracking and mouthwatering contest when these two teams go head to head tonight.