Season 2 of the Indian Super League (ISL) has had its fair share of drama, magical footwork and nail-biting endings. The standout highlight of Season 2, however, after 33 games has been the goal-fests. Last year, the league witnessed four games in the entire season that saw five or more goals. In 2015, however, we have already seen four such matches as the nervous business end nears.
The season has so far seen the net bulged on 88 occasions, far more than at the same stage last season. This is a reflection of the clubs improving their scoring standards significantly. If Season 1 had only one hat-trick from Brazilian winger Andre Moritz, Season 2 has got three such performances already - by Stiven Mendoza (Chennaiyin FC), Sunil Chhetri (Mumbai City FC) and Iain Hume (Atletico de Kolkata).
Week 5 of ISL 2015 saw a barrage of top-notch performances and a bit of drama. IBNLive.com looks back at some of those exciting moments that stood out in the last seven days.
FC Goa on top
With a 2-2 away draw against FC Pune City on Sunday, FC Goa remain on top while FC Pune City have slipped down to number two. Pune's marquee man Adrian Mutu's timely left-footed volley ensured that his team maintained close proximity with league leaders. The match started with the home side dominating proceedings and as a result got the first goal of the match. But that worked up the opposition and they nullified the lead in no time. In fact, they started to play some relentless football and courtesy a Jonatan Lucca goal, they headed into the break gaining a 2-1 lead. The second half started with the hosts showing a lot of intensity but they failed to get the decisive touch for most parts. In the injury time, FC Pune City upped their game and there were a lot of attempts at goal. Laxmikant Kattimani made quite a few good stops but then a moment of magic by Mutu got the better of him. A draw was a fair result in the end. The Romanian veteran volleyed home the equalising goal in the 90th minute to snatch a point for the home side, thereby taking his team to the second spot with 14 points from nine matches, ahead of Delhi Dynamos on goal difference. Goa remained on top with 15 points from nine matches.
Zico's tactics
Legendary Brazilian Zico is known for his innovations against different oppositions. He has played as many as five formations: 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2 diamond, 3-4-1-2 and a 5-3-2. The Brazilian resorted to a 5-3-2 formation against the high-scoring Chennai side. This was after taking lessons from the previous meeting at Fatorda, Goa, where the hosts were demolished 0-4 thanks to a Mendoza hat-trick. The formation and tactics worked wonders as the back line headed by Lucio and Arnolin managed to keep the trio of Fikru, Mendoza and Elano at bay. In the last match against Chennai, Bikramjit majorly focused on defending Elano and prevented him from making those penetrative passes that had led to Goa’s downfall in their previous meeting. Zico has surely made things very tough for the contenders.
All not well in Mumbai camp?
Mumbai City FC on Sunday said the side has "mutually" parted ways with its assistant coach, Spaniard Oscar Bruzon, with immediate effect. While the official statement suggested the decision was because of "differences in football philosophy", if reports are to be believed, there is much more to that. A report in a leading Indian daily said Bruzon left the club after a heated spat with player-manager Nicolas Anelka.
Bruzon is the second mid-way casualty for Mumbai this season. At the start of the season, their key playmaker and probably the best foreign recruit last season, Andre Moritz, left the club after an alleged altercation with Frenchman Anelka.
However, despite their locker-room problems, Mumbai City FC are currently fourth on the points table with 11 points from eight matches.
Postiga to be back soon for ATK
Now here's some good news for the Atletico de Kolkata fans. Defending champions ATK's coach, Antonio Lopez Habas, recently said their marquee player Helder Postiga will join the team on November 15 and be part of the last four matches which they will play at their own backyard.
Postiga suffered a hamstring injury in the opener against Chennaiyin FC where he scored a brace to help ATK win 3-2. "He (Postiga) is recovering very well and he will join us on November 15," Habas said.
This will certainly come as a huge relief for the club who have failed to display the same class which they did last season. Ever since Postiga has left, ATK have cut a sorry figure in most of their matches - languishing at the sixth spot with 10 points from 8 games.
The Indian players, who were roped in by ATK during the players' auction, have not been able to live up to the expectations and have hardly contributed to the team's cause. The inconsistency of players like Sushil Singh, Nadong Bhutia, Clifford Miranda, Jewel Raja and Syed Rahim Nabi has hurt ATK's chances and it very much reflects in their performance.
Apart from Canadian striker Iain Hume, who has a hat-trick to his name against Mumbai City FC, none of the others have been able to raise their standards.
Chhetri proves his value
None would have thought that after the halfway stage through the second season, it will be Indian striker Sunil Chhetri who would head the list of goal scorers. But it is indeed the 31-year-old who sits atop the table with six strikes from four matches for his side Mumbai City FC in his first season.
The star Indian forward, who missed the first season of the ISL, fired a hat-trick against NorthEast United FC including an expertly taken 'Paneka' penalty which sent rival custodian Rehenesh diving the wrong side.
After missing the first two matches, the Indian captain has now scored six goal from only four outings. He has also got one assist to his credit. Chhetri has ignited Mumbai City FC's campaign and has given his fans something to savour.
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