Jamshedpur seal semis spot

Shillong has not proved to be a happy hunting ground for NorthEast United FC, who won just one of their three league games here. And the jinx didn't leave them in the crucial Indian Super League playoffs clash against Jamshedpur FC as the Highlanders went down 0-2 at the JN Stadium on Sunday.
However, what proved to be the home coach Juan Pedro Benali's loss was an occasion to applaud Khalid Jamil — the only surviving Indian coach in the league. Incidentally, it was Jamil, who had earlier guided NEUFC to their second playoffs qualification and won the I-League with Aizawl FC at the same venue.
And it was his wards, led by Stephen Eze's (29th) third goal of the season, who dominated the proceedings with their disciplined approach at the back that forced the prolific NEUFC to end their remarkable season without adding to their tally of 46 goals on the day.
The Jamshedpur defence, led by Eze and player-of-the-match Pronay Halder, kept the otherwise dangerous Alaaeddine Ajaraie at bay and held fort against the incessant attempts from the hosts in search of an equaliser, despite having to lose Mobashir Rahman to a straight red in the 88th minute.
And as things began getting more tense towards the end with NEUFC pushing harder for an equaliser, it was Javi Hernandez (90+9') who hammered the final nail in the hosts' hopes by converting a dribbling move inside the box from Ritwik Das and winning a clash against league champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants in the semifinals.
Earlier, the match began with both teams showing the intent for a last-four berth. But the home side looked to be gaining more grounds and making more moves upfront, led by Jithin MS's flair and Buanthanglun Samte's diligence.
Macarton Nickson showed the confidence of earning his first senior India call-up with an optimistic shot in the sixth minute. And a minute later, he was at the right place to turn in a curling cross near the box from local boy Redeem Tlang, but in vain as Albino Gomes did the needful to collect it.
Eventually, it was the visitors that won the breakthrough in the 29th minute led by Jamshedpur's long-throw efficiency this season. One such throw by Ashutosh Mehta from the right into the middle of the box and a defensive blunder by the NEUFC defence gave Eze the space to pile in a shot into the left-top corner beyond the grasp of a hapless Gurmeet Singh under the bar.
The second half began as the first had with NEUFC pushing ahead with optimistic moves but failing to breach the final third with any of their attempts.
Samte had a long dipping cross from the halfway line saved by an aware Gomes in the 51st minute while Jithin's shot from near goalmouth went over the bar in the 53rd. But neither Tlang's 80th minute curler that almost evaded the soft touch from Gomes nor the many substitutions that Benali mastered could change the scorebord for NEUFC.
JFC substitute Javier Siverio could have then doubled the lead in the 83rd minute from a great cross from Jordan Murray but it was left to Hernandez to earn the second goal for the depleted team late into injury time and let Jamil and Indian coaching come out as the winner.