Fatorda (Goa) : ATK Mohun Bagan and Jamshedpur FC lock horns in a battle for the top spot in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) standings in the last league stage match of the season, at the PJN Stadium, here on Monday.
A win or a draw against ATKMB will guarantee JFC the League Shield. ATKMB need to beat JFC by two or more goals to win the season’s first piece of silverware. Jamshedpur have 40 points from 19 games while third-placed ATKMB have 37.
Jamshedpur are on a run of six straight wins, a win in their next game would see them become the first team in ISL to win seven straight games. ATKMB have not lost in their last 15 games and avoiding defeat in the next game would make them the first team to go unbeaten in 16 games in ISL.
When Jamshedpur and ATKMB face each other, they are not fighting for the Shield alone. Both the teams are on the verge of breaking ISL records in their next game.
Jamshedpur are also on the verge of breaking another record. They have accumulated 40 points this season, the joint highest a team has gained after the league stages of the ISL — Bengaluru in 2017-18, ATKMB and Mumbai City FC in 2020-21. A win or a draw on Monday would see the club create a new record.
Nigerian forward Daniel Chima Chukwu scored twice in Jamshedpur FC’s 5-1 win over Odisha FC as JFC are confirmed to finish in the top two.
Chima has scored nine goals in ISL 2021-22, seven of which have been for Jamshedpur. Since Chima’s debut for JFC, no player has scored more goals in the league than him. Along with Greg Stewart, the duo have been lethal.
ATKMB have also been on a stellar run under Juan Ferrando and Roy Krishna finding his scoring boots in the last game only augurs well for the Mariners. Joni Kauko has also been in good form along with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh being consistent throughout.
The last time the two sides met, Jamshedpur edged past ATKMB by a 2-1 margin.
–IANS