India international Anirudh Thapa scored in the first minute to set up Chennaiyin FC's 2-1 win over Jamshedpur FC in an Indian Super League match here on Tuesday. Thapa's early strike coupled with a penalty goal from Esmael Goncalves (26th) ensured that Chennaiyin began their campaign with a win. Last season's golden boot winner Nerijus Valskis (37th) pulled one back but a string of misses ensured that Jamshedpur boss Owen Coyle started the season with a defeat against the team he managed last season.

Thapa got the game off to an electrifying start, scoring in the very first minute. Rafael Crivellaro won the ball and found Goncalves on the right flank and his low cross was powered into the net by the India midfielder. The next few minutes made it evident what sort of a game this was going to be. Jamshedpur's English defender Peter Hartley wasted a golden opportunity to draw his team level in the seventh minute and headed a free-kick wide off the target. Three minutes later, Goncalves found himself one-on-one with opposition custodian TP Rehenesh but failed to find the target. Lallianzuala Chhangte missed a chance to score in the 20th minute. His first touch, as he received Crivellaro's excellent pass, took the ball away and the subsequent effort was pushed behind by Rehenesh. But, he made amends five minutes later, drawing a push from Isaac Vanmalsawma inside the box and winning a penalty.