Jamshedpur FC produced a composed second-half turnaround to defeat East Bengal FC 2-1 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Friday night, extending their winning run to three matches in the Indian Super League, ISL 2025-26 season.
A late curler from substitute Rei Tachikawa sealed the comeback and propelled the Men of Steel provisionally to the top of the table with nine points from three outings.
For East Bengal, who had started the campaign strongly, it was a first setback of the season despite taking a first-half lead.
High-Tempo Opening Exchanges
Both sides approached the contest with intensity from the opening whistle. East Bengal sought to establish early control, with Jay Gupta heading over from a Miguel Figueira set-piece delivery inside the first three minutes. Jamshedpur responded quickly when Raphael Bouli found the net from Mohammed Sanan’s cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Bouli was caught offside twice more in the early phase as East Bengal’s defensive line held firm.
Vincy Barretto provided consistent width for Jamshedpur down the right flank and tested goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill with a driven effort. At the other end, Anwar Ali and Anton Søjberg both threatened from aerial situations, highlighting East Bengal’s focus on set-piece delivery.
The match remained evenly balanced through the opening half-hour, with Jamshedpur attempting to press higher while East Bengal looked to exploit wide areas.
Photo:Abhijit Addya /Focus Sports/ ISL
Despite the visitors asking more probing questions before the interval, it was East Bengal who struck first in the 40th minute. A throw-in from the left initiated the move, with Bipin Singh delivering a measured cross into the penalty area. Edmund Lalrindika timed his movement well, slipped free of his marker, and guided a right-footed finish into the bottom-left corner beyond Albino Gomes.
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The goal gave the hosts a 1-0 lead heading into the break. Miguel Figueira nearly doubled the advantage soon after, while Youssef Ezzejjari headed narrowly over from a corner, as East Bengal appeared to be growing into the contest.
Jamshedpur Shift Momentum
The second half, however, unfolded differently. Jamshedpur returned with greater urgency and began to dominate territory. In the 55th minute, Bouli’s header forced a sharp save from Gill, who reacted quickly to keep his side ahead. Moments later, Madih Talal’s free-kick again tested the East Bengal goalkeeper.
The pressure eventually yielded results in the 61st minute. Nikola Stojanović’s corner delivery found Stephen Eze rising above the defence, and the centre-back powered a header into the top-right corner. The equaliser shifted momentum decisively in favour of the visitors.
From that point onward, the match opened up. East Bengal sought to regain control through midfield rotations and substitutions introduced by Óscar Bruzón in the 69th minute. Bipin Singh and Jay Gupta attempted to stretch the play, but Jamshedpur’s defensive organisation limited clear-cut opportunities.
Owen Coyle’s introduction of Rei Tachikawa in the 84th minute proved to be the decisive tactical move. The Japanese midfielder immediately injected energy into Jamshedpur’s attacking structure, linking play between midfield and the front line.
The winning moment arrived in the 87th minute. Tachikawa initiated the move by combining with Mohammed Sanan before exchanging a quick one-two with Madih Talal. Receiving the return pass on the left edge of the box, Tachikawa shifted the ball onto his right foot and curled a precise effort into the top-right corner, leaving Gill with no chance.
The strike was a demonstration of composure and technical execution under pressure, completing Jamshedpur’s comeback.
East Bengal pushed forward aggressively in stoppage time in search of an equaliser. Anwar Ali’s header forced a save from Gomes, while Vishnu Puthiya fired wide with the goalkeeper momentarily off his line. Despite the late surge, Jamshedpur managed the closing minutes with discipline, maintaining compact defensive spacing and controlling second balls.
Stephen Eze, whose equalising header had shifted the contest, was named Player of the Match for his defensive contributions and decisive goal.
Implications for the Standings
With this victory, Jamshedpur move provisionally to the top of the ISL table, reflecting a blend of defensive organisation and late-game resilience. Three consecutive wins underline their ability to absorb pressure and capitalise in decisive moments.
For East Bengal, the defeat halts early-season momentum but offers tactical lessons. While their structured defensive line and set-piece threat were effective in the first half, second-half game management and transitional defending require refinement. The contest highlighted the narrow margins that define league competition. A disciplined first-half performance by East Bengal was undone by sustained second-half pressure and a moment of quality from Tachikawa.
As the league table begins to take shape, Jamshedpur’s ability to execute under pressure may prove a defining characteristic of their campaign.
