Revealed: Why six players were sent off in ill-tempered game between Jamspedpur and Goa

Jamshedpur FC's Goalkeeping coach was also sent off in the Super Cup match in Thursday evening.

The third quarterfinal match of the inaugural Super Cup produced a game that kicked-off with 11 players a side but ended with just eight on either team. However, the fixture that looked finely poised with enthralling action did not disappoint. Jamshedpur failed to win a single match against FC Goa in the league, with the Gaurs edging out the Men of Steel for a playoffs spot in the penultimate game of the ISL's league phase.

The Tata-owned club came out on the pitch with vengeance on their mind but were brought down to earth soon after the kick-off. The major part of the first half saw sloppy passes, silly tackles and the referee consulting the aggrieved parties. The tale of six red cards started with the intentional foul from JFC’s #13 Sairuat Kima on opposition striker Ferran Corominas. The incident riled up the Goan players and that was evident with the intent in their play.

FC Goa were a far better side than their counterparts with timely efforts on goal and caused much trouble to India international Subrata Paul. The Goan players were often caught in the potent offside trap that Jamshedpur pulled off quite perfectly. Brandon Fernandes finally broke the deadlock near the half-hour mark. A 19-pass move concluded with Brandon chipping the ball over Subrata to finally give the Gaurs a legitimate lead. 

Just before the first-half whistle, Brandon scored again but the ball had gone out of bounds before winger reeled it back and slotted home, without attracting the attention of any of the officials. After many objections from the Jamshedpur players, the referee took a call to review it and it was clear that the scoreline would come back to 1-0. Interestingly, while the right decision was eventually made upon review, it must be pointed out that there is no provision for allowing the referee to use VAR under tournament rules by an illegitimate use of TV professionals.

A heated bust-up between two sides resulted in three players from each sides being sent off

Once in the tunnel, Subrata Paul and Brandon Fernandes were caught in a heated argument, but India teammate Anas Edathodika came in to calm the simmering war of words between the two.

While everyone had their attention on that incident, Jamshedpur's Kervens Belfort and Goa's Bruno Pinheiro were caught in their own scuffle causing another heated moment for the officials to defuse. Watching Belfort and Bruno, Jamshedpur FC’s goalkeeping coach tried to separate them by pushing Bruno away from Belfort.

Pinheiro took advantage of the situation to play the victim card in front of the officials creating a scenario that portrayed Belfort as the bully. Adding to that, the Goan squad stepped in to defend Bruno causing the scuffle to become a brawl.

The officials finally intervened sending off three players on either side with Jamshedpur’s GK coach also being sent to the stands. The game resumed after a lengthy delay in Bhubaneswar’s pouring rain. Jamshedpur took the field without their captain Subrata, Edathodika and Belfort while the Goans had Brandon, Pinheiro and Sergio Juste being red carded.

The Goans doubled their lead through a penalty from Corominas and then they ran amok. The game ended 1-5 in favour of FC Goa and with a lot of and unanswered questions.

"Nobody can say what exactly happened there. There were around 30-40 people in a brawl with three players sent off for both of the teams. I was astonished by the way it happened. It must have been difficult for the referee to distinguish from the crowd who was involved and who was not- Derrick Pereira, Head Coach, FC Goa said in the post-match press conference.

Related:

I was shocked when I was told that three of my players would be sent off- Derrick Pereira

It just dissolved into a little bit of a farce- Coppell

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The Goan outfit now face Kingfisher East Bengal FC in the Semi-finals on 16th April 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. Brandon Fernandes (34’), Ferran Corominas (P – 69’), Manvir Singh (77’), Hugo Boumous (78’; 89’) scored the goals for FC Goa while it was Ashim Biswas who scored the lone consolation goal for Jamshedpur FC (90 + 2’) in the game. Frenchman Hugo Boumous of FC Goa was adjudged the Hero of the Match.