JFC vs MBSG analysis: At Jamshedpur, Javi Hernandez blends graft with grace to set back Mohun Bagan

In six seasons of the Indian Super League, Javi Hernandez has been on the receiving end of countless cutbacks, timing his late runs to perfection and striking with his gifted left foot. He has done so for ATK, ATK Mohun Bagan, Odisha FC, and Bengaluru FC. But when he rifled home a stoppage-time winner in the first leg of the semi-final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, it carried extra significance.

For Jamshedpur FC, the plucky underdog, this was a momentous strike. As captain and talisman, Hernandez delivered a potential playoff-defining moment in front of 20,000 home fans at the Furnace, a first for him on Indian shores.

Jamshedpur’s defensive resolve had already been on display in Shillong, where it stunned NorthEast United with just 30.8% possession. Against the reigning ISL Shield winner Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Khalid Jamil’s men outdid themselves, registering an even lower possession of 26.7% yet emerging victorious in a dramatic finale.

Last Sunday, Jamshedpur had to neutralise the league’s top scorer, Alaaeddine Ajaraie. Here, it had to keep in check the Indian version of the Galacticos assembled at Mohun Bagan. Jason Cummings, Greg Stewart, Liston Colaco, Dimitrios Petratos, Jamie Maclaren, Sahal Abdul Samad and Anirudh Thapa were among the stars who descended at the JRD Tata Complex but couldn’t put out the fire burning bright at the Furnace.

After a cagey start, both sides showcased their prowess from set-pieces. Jamshedpur took the lead for the second successive game via a long throw-in, with Stephen Eze’s knockdown setting up Javier Siverio. Bagan responded with an outrageous 35-yard free-kick from Cummings.

From there, it was one-way traffic. The visitor threw everything at Jamshedpur’s defence, but Eze, stretching every muscle of his towering 6’6” frame, repelled wave after wave. Pranoy Halder provided crucial support, while Ashutosh Mehta, who will miss the second leg due to suspension, doubled-teamed with Nikhil Barla to keep Liston Colaco quiet.

Hernandez, meanwhile, was Jamshedpur’s link between defence and attack. Before his goal, much of his work was done deeper on the pitch. Of his 32 touches, only three came in Bagan’s box — centre-back Eze had more in that area. Until that point in the game, he was instrumental in regaining possession, winning the ball back nine times, the highest for any player on the pitch.

Despite leading Jamshedpur’s goal (9) and assist charts (3), the 35-year-old has also put in the hard yards defensively, ranking high in recoveries, interceptions, clearances, aerial duels, and duels won. His numbers this season align with his influential stints at Bengaluru FC (2022-23) and ATK (2019-20), both of which ended in playoff finals, the latter culminating in a title triumph.

Just as he sealed Jamshedpur’s win over NEUFC days earlier, Hernandez once again provided the decisive touch in the semifinal. Jamshedpur’s 2-1 win over a Mohun Bagan side that had lost just twice in 24 regular-season matches could be the defining result of the competition.

But the challenge is far from over. Three nights from now, Jamshedpur must travel to Salt Lake Stadium, where Bagan remains unbeaten this season, without Mobashir Rahman, Ashutosh Mehta, and Eze — three key defensive players serving suspensions.

With his experience in Kolkata, Hernandez will be central to Jamshedpur’s hopes of defying the odds once more, ensuring that this underdog story has one final, triumphant chapter.