Jamshedpur FC opened their Indian Super League 2025–26 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Sunday, riding on an early strike from Madih Talal to secure all three points.
In a contest that was settled inside the opening ten minutes, Talal’s ninth-minute effort proved decisive as Owen Coyle’s men began their season at the Furnace with composure and control. The Moroccan midfielder was deservedly named Player of the Match for his influence across both halves.
Early Authority from the Hosts
Coyle fielded a balanced XI, with Albino Gomes guarding the posts behind a backline marshalled by captain Stephen Eze. Pratik Chowdhary, Nikhil Barla and Mark Zothanpuia completed the defensive unit, while Rei Tachikawa and Pronay Halder anchored midfield alongside Talal. Up front, Raphael Messi Bouli was supported by Sanan Mohammed and Ritwik Das.
Mohammedan Sporting, under Mehrajuddin Wadoo, named an all-Indian lineup a historic first in the ISL era with Subhajit Bhattacharjee in goal and captain Gaurav Bora leading the defence.
Jamshedpur began with urgency. Inside three minutes, Bouli blazed over from close range after being picked out by Talal. Moments later, Talal himself rose to meet a cross from Sanan but directed his header narrowly over the bar. The warning signs were evident.
Photo: Abhinav Ashish Aind /Focus Sports/ ISL
The breakthrough arrived in the ninth minute. Talal collected possession outside the penalty area, shifted the ball onto his right foot and drove a low effort toward the bottom left corner. A slight deflection off Bora wrong-footed Subhajit, and the ball rolled into the net to give the hosts an early advantage.
Control Without Cushion
With the lead secured, Jamshedpur sought to press home their dominance. Bouli remained central to their attacking thrust, first heading just wide before dragging a right-footed effort past the post from the edge of the box. Eze, too, threatened from set-pieces but could not keep his attempts under the bar.
Mohammedan gradually steadied themselves after the first-half cooling break. Mahitosh Roy tried his luck from distance, while Adison Singh attempted to exploit space on the right channel. Yet Albino Gomes remained largely untroubled as Jamshedpur carried their slender lead into the interval.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Jamshedpur dictated tempo and territory but lacked the final touch to put the game beyond reach. Talal’s inswinging free-kick caused chaos in the box and struck the post after a defensive touch, while Vincy Barretto and Pronay Halder both forced Subhajit into action with long-range attempts.
Halder’s curling effort toward the top corner drew an impressive save, and Bouli once again came close, firing just wide from the left side of the box. The home side’s inability to convert their territorial advantage kept the contest alive deeper into the second half.
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To their credit, Mohammedan Sporting maintained discipline and structure despite facing sustained pressure. Lalngaihsaka saw a shot blocked, and Amarjit Singh Kiyam fired wide as the visitors searched for an equaliser.
In the closing minutes, the Kolkata outfit pushed forward in hope rather than conviction. A late effort from the right wing in stoppage time was comfortably gathered by Gomes, sealing the result without further alarm.
For Jamshedpur, this was less about spectacle and more about efficiency. The early goal allowed them to manage the contest, and although they lacked a second strike to kill it off, their defensive organisation ensured Mohammedan never truly threatened parity.
Coyle will be satisfied with the composure shown by his side, particularly in controlling midfield and limiting clear chances. Talal’s influence both as a scorer and as a creative fulcrum underlined his importance to the team’s structure. For Mohammedan Sporting, the defeat does not eclipse the positives. Their organisation, work rate and resilience suggest they will be competitive, even as they adjust to the demands of the league with an all-Indian core.
As the ISL season gathers momentum, Jamshedpur have laid down a steady marker. One goal was enough and in a tightly contested league, such margins often define early narratives.
