Gaurav Mukhi scores on return for Jamshedpur FC Reserves

Valskis hat trick helps Chennaiyin FC beat hosts 4-2

Jamshedpur, Sep 26: Gaurav Mukhi, who was cleared to play recently by the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF), scored his first goal of the season for Jamshedpur FC Reserves team against Chennaiyin FC in a friendly match at JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. Though Chennaiyin FC defeat Jamshedpur FC Reserves 4-2 but the crowd were in jovial mode seeing the local lad score his first goal at the ‘Furnace’ after the ban.

In the second half of the match when JFC Reserves was trailing 2-1, Gaurav got a pass and entered the D Box and scored his first goal on return which took JFC Reserves on level with Chennaiyin FC. The score read on 2-2. During the match Gaurav made three shots on target but couldn�t convert it into a goal.   

Earlier, both the teams managed to score a goal each in the first half. Tohi Singh opened the scoring in the 31st to take visitors to 1-0 in the lead.  

In reply Akash scored for the hosts in 35th minute. Both the teams were tied at 1-1 as the first half came to a close.

In the second half Chennaiyin FC’s foreign player Nerijus Valskis scored a hat trick   (66th, 68th and 85th minute) to take the game away from hosts. 

The Jamshedpur FC senior team is scheduled to play former Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin on Saturday behind closed doors.

Mukhi was banned for six months for age-fraud last season.

The AIFF Disciplinary Committee had sanctioned him in November last year but upon submission of correct documents, the ban was lifted.

Mukhi had scored a goal against Bengaluru FC on October 7 last year and went on to be named as the ‘Indian Super League’s youngest-ever goal-scorer’. But it then came to light that the 16-year-old was over age.