Jamshedpur, January 4: Jamshedpur FC bounced back in emphatic fashion after their previous setback, thrashing Sports Odisha 9–0 in the Reliance Foundation Youth Development League Regional Qualifiers to climb to second place in the ROI group.
After a disappointing loss against Bidhannagar Municipal Sports Academy, the Young Men of Steel rediscovered their attacking rhythm with a dominant all-round display. Jamshedpur wasted little time in taking control, opening the scoring as early as the third minute when Ayangsana Meitei rose highest to head home Lawmsangzuala’s cross.
Rayan C doubled the lead in the ninth minute with a simple tap-in, before Gopal Munda produced a fine finish in the 15th minute to make it 3–0. Jamshedpur continued to stretch the Sports Odisha defence, and Lawmsangzuala added the fourth after a neat move involving Rayan and Mama.
The pressure never eased. Four minutes later, Rayan found the net again, this time finishing off a move set up by Lawmsangzuala. Just before the break, Heeranganba Seram got on the scoresheet in injury time, giving Jamshedpur a commanding six-goal cushion at half-time.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Jamshedpur controlling possession and territory. Satyajit Das produced a moment of quality in the 72nd minute, curling in a superb free-kick to make it 7–0. Lawmsangzuala then struck again in the 88th minute, before Seram completed the rout with a last-minute goal to seal a comprehensive nine-goal victory.
With this result, Jamshedpur FC move up to second place in the standings, just one point behind table-toppers Bidhannagar MSA, with two matches still to be played in the group.
In other matches of the day, Bidhannagar MSA were held to a draw by Zinc Football Academy, while Football 4 Change Academy edged past Chhattisgarh United in a high-scoring encounter.
Jamshedpur FC will next face Zinc Football Academy in another crucial fixture on January 6 at the Flatlets Ground, with kickoff scheduled for 8 am.
