Conclusion!

ISL's following beat Serie A's popularity! That's a reason to cheer...

India's first football journey has come to an end with Atletico de Kolkata as the 1st champion. Kolkata beat Kerala by a solitary goal that came from Mohammed Rafique, who came as a substitute for Mohammed Rafi. Pody set up the ball and Rafique headed it straight into the net. The goal surprisingly came in the added time, will go down in ISL's history. Kerala had more shots on target but Kolkata had slightly higher ball possession.

There was a huge roar nationwide. Irrespective of the teams they supported, all the football crazy fans were ecstatic and content as the season successfully concluded. There is a hope that ISL will raise football's bar in India and will recognize domestic players.

There was a long list of awards that were distributed in the post match ceremony. After due consideration, we have prepared our own set of awards.

• BEST TEAM - FC GOA. Zico's men had the worst start of the League. No one could have imagined that they will reach into the semi finals. Not only this, their team spirit was commendable. The way they held Kolkata in their last matches proved that they deserve this award.
• BEST PLAYER - ELANO BLUMER (CHENNAIYIN FC). The Brazilian is the highest goal scorer of the league, despite missing a few matches due to an injury. He won the golden boot award and gave away the price money for the development of football in India. 
• BEST COACH - MATERRAZI (CHENNAIYIN FC) and DAVID JAMES (KERALA BLASTERS): Both the bosses did an incredible job. Although both the managers had different approaches, one helped his team to maintain the top position while the other was able to take his team to the finals.
• BEST GOALKEEPER - SUBRATA PAUL ( MUMBAI FC). Although his team failed to create a mark, the Keeper was a delight to watch. At times, it was only because of him that the opponent failed to score. He was often seen exposed but with sharp reflexes, he managed pretty well.
• BEST CAPTAIN - LUIS GARCIA (ATLETICO DE KOLKATA). The Spaniard was always his manager's first choice. He was commanding on the field and steered them towards victory.
• MOST VERSATILE PLAYER - HANS MULDER ( DELHI DYNAMOS). The Dutch midfielder was Delhi's one of the most consistent player. He managed the mid field, guarded the Keeper and scored some goals. He was a team himself. 

Now for some not-so-good awards.

• MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM - NORTHEAST UNITED FC. This is the team that was supposed to make atleast to the semi finals. Northeast is famous for producing some of the best football players ever, including Baichung Bhutia. They had a good start but ended with a whimper.
• MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER - FIKRU ( ATLETICO DE KOLKATA). The Ethiopian player scored ISL's first scored but later on proved to be of no good. He was aggressive and faced a three match long ban. He was excluded from the team and the reason remained a secret.
• MOST DISAPPOINTING COACH - HARM VAN VELDHOVEN (DELHI DYNAMOS). This manager never chose appropriate starting eleven. He took too much of risk every time that it pushed his team into the dearth. He had Italian legend, Del Piero, in his team but due to some personal issues he did not use him well.
• MOST AGGRESSIVE TEAM - ATLETICO DE KOLKATA. This is the team that was the most controversial throughout the season. With players and Managers facing bans, yellow and red cards, this team surely didn't win our hearts.

This is what we think about the teams and the players. You can go to the official site for the official list. We have faith that the League will keep on getting better and the idea behind it, to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2022, will come true. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Stay tuned for more myriad stuff!

FC Goa vs Atlectico de Kolkata!

Goa and Kolkata will lock horns in the second leg of the semi finals. It  is ISL's most talked about rivalry. The fans are all set to see their respective team win.

Courtesy:ISL

The first match of the second leg was hosted by Kolkata at the Salt Lake Stadium, where it all started. Fikru missed the game following his injury and Goan defender, Bruno was on suspension. The match started with Amiri's strong challenge on Borja. the home team had a good start but dominated the attack index marginally. It seemed like this time Borja was on target. After Amiri, it was Slepicka who troubled the Spaniard by kicking on  his leg and received a yellow card as a consequence. Pody's free kick was rightly directed by Borja. As soon as Nato stepped in to provide the final touch, Gregory blocked him. That looked like a penalty but the referee thought otherwise. The visitors led the attack index for the rest of the game but the meeting ended in a goalless draw. Garcia wasted many telling chances with his wide shots. The problem was similar with the visitors. Mandar cut past two defenders and passed the ball to unmarked Romeo who shot it just wide. Slepicka shot straight into the hands of Edel while Santos' shot lacked power. Both the teams now had an important match that would decide their fate. 

Courtesy:ISL

The second match was hosted by Goa and to everyone's surprise, Fikru was excluded from the team, reason being unclear. The fans awaited to see their teams break the dead lock as the earlier part of the semi final ended in a goalless draw. Every game the teams play, start with one or the other kind of foul. This time Pody was brought down by Gregory and Kolkata received a free kick. It was the home team that lead the first period of the attack index. Sanju came with a brilliant series of passes, defeating all the defenders but the final shot, taken by Pody, was off side. This time it were Kolkata who could have received a penalty as Arnab put in a sliding tackle and hit Santos on his leg. There was just a minute long added time at the conclusion of the the first half but plenty of extra time at the end of 90 minutes. The game was stretched to 120 minutes and only saw some substitutions, set pieces, sloppy work but no goal! It all came down to ISL's first penalty shoot out. Goa won the toss but lost the round. Santos and Amiri shot over the cross bar while Kolkata had all the successful shots. Goa highly dominated the attack index for the entire game but Kolkata made it to the finals on penalty.

Courtesy:ISL

Goa and Kolkata became rivals early in the season. Kolkata had a terrific start while Goa sat at the bottom of the table during the entire first round. As the League progressed, we saw Goa raising their game. Zico's men were fierce. In these matches we witnessed Goa's zeal and Kolkata's fear. Goa ruled the attack index for both the matches; Kolkata, however, made it to the finals on shoot out. Garcia will have to raise his game following Fikru's exclusion. It will be Kolkata vs Kerela in the finals.

Chennai vs Kerala (2)

Chennaiyin have a tough task ahead of them. They have a trail over them of three goals. They have been one of the best teams of the league but a lose here would send them out of the competition. They were the first team to qualify for the knockouts but if they fail today, all will be nugatory. Chennaiyin changed their tactics. They put five defenders to contain Kerala's forward while Elano was not in the starting line up. The Brazilian was not at his best in their earlier encounter.

Chennaiyin FC (3) - Kerala Blasters (1)

Formation: 4-3-3 and 4-1-3-2

Courtesy:ISL

Chennaiyin started their home game with a mighty spirit. They looked fierce and confident. Chopra could have upset Chennaiyin heart but was off side. A corner and a yellow card to the men in yellow. The game maintained its pace since the beginning. The home side's manager put in a cross for Maurice but the Frenchman's shot was saved by Sandip who excelled in the previous game. Djemba- Djemba headed the ball, led by Dhana, towards the goal. Forcada stopped it clearly with his hands but instead of a hand ball, ref gave a yellow to Djemba- Djemba. The visitors looked rather infuriated with the decision. Materazzi and Jeje troubled Sandip with their moves. Abhishek came in for injured Dhana. That was a thing to worry for the home team. Chopra and Hume on counter attack but Hume's second touch allowed Shilton to collect the ball. Hume is Kerala's favorite but at times we have seen the Canadian commit some serious mistakes. McAlister received a second yellow card for kicking Mendy and was sent off the field. The visitors were down to 10 men! Romey for Forcada. Mendy with telling run and a cross but none of the teammates was present to tap the ball in. Romey gave away free kick at a dangerous position. Materazzi took it and Silvestre sent it straight at the back of the net. Goal for Chennai.

It was a laborious first half for the teams and Chennai solely ruled the attack index but they needed to push harder in the second half if they wanted a place in the finals.

Courtesy:ISL

Jhingan pushed Maurice and gave away a penalty to the home team in the dawning minutes of the second half. Materazzi took it and it was goal but wait, how can a semi final progress without some drama. The ref ruled out the goal as Maurice ran inside the box. Materazzi took it again but it was a wide shot. Unbelievable that was! Nesta picked up a hamstring injury and was substituted by Elano. A roar there. Another hamstring injury. Sandip was on the ground, received some treatment and the game progressed. Some push and pull, Elano booked. A tussle between Mendy and Jhingan. Gurwinder came in from nowhere and kicked Mendy to give another free kick to Chennai. That was stupid. Jhingan, who gave away a penalty, scored for the opposite team. He tried to chest the ball to Sandip but as the keeper struggled with his hamstring, he failed to collect the ball and it went straight inside the net. Own goal. Pelissari for Djemba- Djemba and finally, Luis for Sandip. Milagres for Hume. Yellow for Maurice. Jeje scored the third goal for Chennai at the 90th minute. In the added time, Elano took Luis by surprise. He was far away from the box but took a shot which forced Luis to run . Brilliant from the Brazilian.

Courtesy:ISL

Chennai evened the score with Kerala through Jeje in the dying minutes of the game. The referee signaled towards the extra time. It was a 120 minutes long game. Both the teams tried hard. There were some challenges and tackles,  yellow card and telling chances but the final and glorious goal came from Stephen Pearson. Kerala made to the finals by a margin of one goal.
It was the  most game of the League so far. Chennai ruled the attack index for the entire match and scored three unthinkable goals but Pearson's final strike shattered the home team's dream of being the first champion. Tears in the eyes of the crowd and the player but this how football is. Chennai dominated the league but one lose here and the journey ended.

                                                          *read about Kolkata vs Goa in our next article.

Day 63, Match 57

First match of the first leg of semi finals; clash of the best four. Kerala plays host for the southern derby. It was not only James vs Metarazzi but also Tendulkar vs Dhoni . Elano returned from his injury after a long time but James had to serve his term of ban. Chennai have won all the previous games against the blasters but it was a different story this time.

Kerala Blasters FC (3) - Chennaiyin FC (0)

Formation: 4-4-2 and 5-3-2

Courtesy:ISL

The home team started the proceeding by building pressure on the guests. Ahmed and Chopra made a good start. Jeje received a brilliant ball from Mendy and, despite having ample time and space, sent the ball straight into the keeper's hands. A goal in the opening minutes of the game gives a boost to the scoring team. Jeje missed a golden opportunity. Elano Blumer took a free kick. The free kick specialist and ISL's goal scoring machine, however, failed this time and looked disappointed. Jeje eschewed himself to take a moment to read the ball and instead, headed it straight into the hands of the keeper. The guests lead the attack index for the first period but marginally. McAllister's goal through Hume's corner was declared off side. The exuberant crowd went numb with the decision. Ahmed removed his jersey and was booked (like van Persie). Why? Because he scored! he took a first time right footed shot, beat Bracigliano and scored. The crowd came to life again. Kerala scored their second goal for the evening just after two minutes of the first one. This time it was Kerala's favourite boy, Iain Hume. Ahmed twisted his ankle and had to be attended. Through Silvestre, Chennai tried to open their account but Sandip denied them and the first half was over.

Courtesy:ISL

Chennai had a tough task ahead of them as the second half commenced. Elano was substituted for Pelissari. It was predictable as the Brazilian was struggling in his come back match after an injury. Pelissari stepped into Elano's shoes as he took a free kick following Chopra's hand ball. Mendy put in great efforts but was wide. Another injury for the home team as McAllister hit hard the surface while trying to direct the ball with his head. Barisic for Chopra and Denson for Abhishek. Chennai received a free kick at a dangerous position but Pelissari shot it straight into the keeper's grip. Bracigliano and Hume indulged in a heated argument and the Keeper gave a shoulder push to the forward. Jeje failed to exploit on Sandip's mistake. That was an unguarded post and Jeje missed it. A goal came during the injury time (4 minutes) and was again from the home team. Hume assisted, Sushanth scored and got booked because taking off clothes is not allowed (although we can't see any problem in this way of celebration!). Kerala won by a considerate margin.

Courtesy:ISL

Chennai had more possession but they definitely lacked in all the areas as opposed to their competition, especially defence. Sandip was hit many times but was able to maintain a clean sheet. Barcigliano looked a little distracted . Chennai will have to work really hard if they want to make it to the finals. All the previous wins will take them nowhere. It's a do or die situation for them .

Day 59 and 60, Match 54, 55 and 56

• Kerala and Mumbai can qualify for the semifinals with a win but a draw will see both the teams out of the league. 
• As the Salt Lake Stadium hosts match no. 55, we witness the famous Kolkata vs Goa rivalry. Goa has already qualified for the knockouts and Kolkata can qualify even if the match ends in a draw.
• Neither Northeast nor Mumbai can qualify for the next stage. The result of the last match before the knockouts will only decide who will sit at the bottom of the table.

Kerala Blasters FC (1) - FC Pune City (0)

Formation: 4-4-2 and 4-3-1-2

Courtesy:ISL

For the first period of the game, it was Pune that lead the attack index with the help of their midfielder Mady. He was on charge, shaking the home team's defence, but couldn't score. The game changed when he produced an illegitimate tackle on Iain Hume. Kerala's favourite Canadian striker took the free kick. His curling ball touched Arindham's finger tips but finally landed at the bottom right corner of the net. The crowd went crazy! The visitors dominated the attack index for the entire first half of the game, with a huge difference, but it was Kerala that capitalised the only chance given to them. Pune were on attack even in the second half of the game. Soon, the home team took over. McAllister and Hume went searching for another goal but Arindham was quick to deny them. As the game progressed, the ownership of the attack index shifted from the visitors to the home side. Arindham's fault let Milagres acquire the ball. The Indian forward could have easily scored as the goal was unguarded but he sent it over the cross bar. James must have been infuriated with that. There was Eight minutes of added time! Katsouranis' cross to Ashutosh was blocked by Sandip (ouch!). These eight minutes tested Kerala's defence as Pune were continously attacking (attack index: 90% - 10%). At the end, Kerala won by a solitary goal.

Atletico de Kolkata (1) - FC Goa (1)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-1-2

Courtesy:ISL

Kolkata vs Goa and Fikru vs Gregory. As expected, the game started with some drama. Bengelloun intercepted Fikru's cross with his shoulder but the Ethiopian striker was adamant that it was a handball. The decision went against the home side. Baljit Sahni failed to exploit a defensive error made by the visitors. The home team successfully created pressure on the visitors with their play but like match 54, it was the weak team that scored first. Martins' shot was blocked by Borja but Edgar received it with ease and scored. The pressure shifted from Goa to Kolkata. The second half came with a corner for Kolkata which the home side failed to convert into a goal. Goa have a strong defence system. Baljit and Jewel in a tussle for the ball, pulling each other and a free kick was given to the visitors. Fikru, Garcia and Pody raised their team's attack index to 93% but could only score from a spot kick. Pinheiro brought down Fikru down and received a red card while giving away a penalty. The Ethiopian striker then, equalized the score. Pody and Fikru were fighting! The game ended with identical score and a Goan defender with a red card.

Northeast United FC (1) - Mumbai City FC (1)

Formation: 4-4-1-1 and 4-1-3-2

Courtesy:ISL

Kick off with hand ball for Mumbai and Free kick for Northeast. Both the teams put in equally appreciable efforts. The stats did not vary much. The highlights of the game were Deeepak's tackle on Josl that gave away a penalty to the Northeast which Koke scored, Didika's shot that beat the Keeper only to hit the pole and a late equalizer by Sushil for the home team. Mumbai had more ball possession but with a marginal difference. They had more on target shots and committed more fouls too.  The season concluded for both the teams with this match. Northeast occupies the last place and Mumbai occupies the second last position in the League with a deference of a lone point.

Courtesy:ISL

We have always extolled Kerala in our articles but we truly believe that this match belonged to Pune. Hume was fortunate to receive a free kick that changed the expected result. Kerala made it to the semi finals but Pune will definitely be remembered for the fight they put in. They dominated the entire game, except for one quadrant. it was hard to believe that they couldn't even equalize the score.
Kolkata have reached into the semi finals. After considering others' views, we realised that it is not only us who are not pleased with the tigers. There is no team spirit. The players fight amongst themselves and the coach is always vexed. Even if this team wins, we'll not be celebrating it (sorry Kolkata, but its is true!). 

Day 54 and 55, Match 52 and 53

Mumbai's final home game of the league and they must win it if they want to qualify for the knockouts, although, their chances are bleak. A win for Kolkata will assure their birth in the knockouts. It is an important game for both the sides.

Delhi had a tough nut to crack as they flew to Chennai. Chennai have been defeated only once at the home ground (by FC Goa). If Delhi win, they can expect a place in the final four. If they lose, they will be out of the League and if it is a draw, then, it will depend on other matches. Del Piero has not scored yet in the League and surprisingly (or not!), he is not in starting eleven again.

Mumbai City FC (2) - Atletico de Kolkata (1)

Formation: 4-4-1-1 and 4-2-3-1

Courtesy:ISL

Kolkata started the game by giving away a foul as Borja brought down Stohanzl on to the turf. The Spaniard then sent the ball off post. Anelka replied to the visitor's attack but Edel made an impressive save. Nabi picked up an injury yet again. He pulled his hamstring's muscle and was substituted by Asif. Mumbai's captain started his journey with an injury and has struggled a lot since. He has hurt himself in every game against Kolkata! Luis Garcia hit his knee but continued. The home team dominated the attack index for the first period. Anelka displayed great skills. He was able to turn the ball towards the box even when it was way out of the reach. Paul was conscious of Kingshuk's strike. He came charging to deny him. Didika received a yellow for a stupid and a rather unnecessary tackle. Tiago with the ball and Didika's left footed shot gave shrills to the home audience as Mumbai successfully opened their account for the evening. In the added time, Fikru looked into momentum for the first time but the shot he took was a mediocre one. Kolkata started the second half of the game. Fikru, who once threatened every defender, was easily contained by Cmovs. Didika just saved himself from giving away a penalty. His tackle on Fikru was very serious. Garcia played a perfect playmaker by providing the ball to Borja who, in turn, passed it on to Sahni. The Indian forward made no mistake and the visitors cancelled Didika's goal. Kolkata led the attack index. Fikru's shots have started to go wide than to find the net.  Didika took a free kick away from the post, Friedrich did not miss it and scored. Although it were Kolkata who dominated the attack index of the second half, Mumbai managed to win the game from set pieces.

Chennaiyin FC (2) - Delhi Dynamos (2)

Formation: 4-3-1-2 and 4-2-3-1

Courtesy:ISL

With the kick off, Chennai asserted why they deserve to be at the top. Attack by Pelissari and counter attack by another Brazilian, Dos Santos. As we set ourselves to witness Pelissari taking the corner kick, the crowd roared and it was then that we realised that Pelissari has sent his curling ball straight at the back of the net. Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant! It takes skills to score by defeating a 6'10'' tall keeper. Delhi led the attack index but it was the home side that ruled the score board. Junker's injury 'forced' Veldhoven to bring Del Piero on the field. There was some cheer for that. Jeje's goal gave shivers to the visitors. Chennai had lead by two goals before the half time and they looked content while walking towards the dressing room. The second half started on a positive note for Delhi as it was their Marquee player who netted his first goal of the League. Del Piero received a free kick. He measured the distance and it was a goal. Simple and Effortless! Materazzi looked animated on Balwant's fault of being hasty in taking an otherwise easy shot. Attack index in Delhi's favour. After a few substitutions and set pieces, Mulder's equalizer stole the lime light of the match. When Mulder received the ball back from Dos Santos, he did not care for anything. It was 88 minute on the clock; he came charging and scored Delhi's second goal. Dos Santos with a final strike in 90th minute but the post denied him and Skoubo received a red card. Tough luck! The game ended in a draw. This will not affect the home team but can ruin Delhi's chances of playing in the semi finals.

Courtesy:ISL

Fikru has failed to keep up with the name he created for himself before the ban. He will always be remembered for scoring Hero ISL's first goal but will not be called 'one of the best players' of the League. The assurance that he once provided has lost now. Didika's fouls were uncalled for. Mumbai still stands a chance for the knockouts.
Along with Fikru, there is another striker that has failed to shine despite having ample opportunities. Balwant, we think, has been struggling to maintain a consistent form. Del Piero proved why he is the Italian stallion. His precision helped to recourse a low spirited Delhi. Wish he had seen him more in action during the League. This draw landed Delhi in a tricky situation. It all depend on the following matches.

Day 52 and 53, Match 50 and 51

A win for Goa would assure the visitors a place in the semi finals.  Alessandro Nesta, Chennai's newest signing will be used in the later stage and Blumer is still not available following his injury.

Pune's last home game of the League. Delhi's win will keep the hopes alive for all the five teams in the tournament.

Chennaiyin FC (1) - FC Goa (3)

Formation: 4-1-3-2 and 4-2-3-1

Chennai started the game with a declaration that they are the table toppers as Pelissari made Seda dive in the second minute of the kick off. Inspired by his team mate, Cristian tricked the Goan defender and Seda had to dive again. Andre Santos is tackled by Mendy and the captain received a booking for it. An argument cropped up between the teams forcing the referee to raise his hand again to show Cristian a yellow card. The home side dominated the first fifteen minutes. A weaker looking Goan side, with some great team efforts, broke the deadlock to acquire lead in the game. Shilton deflected Amiri's strike but Romeo managed to keep it in the game only to smack it in the right corner! Chennai received two free kicks but failed to utilize it. Romeo hurt, physio on the field. The pole denied Andre Santos to score from the free kick but the Brazilian was quick enough to score the second goal for Goa. Goa had a lead by two goals before the half time. Goa looked confident as the second half started. Djordjic came in for Eric Djemba-Djemba as no.99 looked uncomfortable with a groin injury. Amiri gave away a free kick for using his hand. The reply, however, proved that the ball went off his chest. with the substitution of Pelissari for Maurice, Chennai used up all the three substitutions of the match. Slepicka scored the third goal for Goa. Shilton deviated Narayan's strike towards Slepicka who took complete advantage of the situation. Chennai looked completely disheartened. Chennai presented a weak form in the later part of the game. Silvestre put in a good pass for Balwant who headed it wide. This was very disappointing. He did it again when Khabra provided him with the ball inside the penalty area. Maurice scored a goal in the final minute of the game. Zico's men were on fire and gave Chennai their first home defeat.

FC Pune City (0) - Delhi Dynamos (1)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3

With the kick off Mulder's contact with Pennant hurt the Englishmen on the right shoulder. Kwang-ll Park had two free kicks which he delivered persistently but lack of efforts from his team mates snatched some telling chances from the home team. Dos Santos put in a curling ball but Junker hit it to the left post. Delhi lead the attack index for the first fifteen minutes. Vadocz hit Adil on his foot and the visitors received a free kick on a dangerous position. Dos Santos on strike but sent the ball over the cross bar. The Brazilian forward deliberately used his hand to control the ball only to attract a yellow card. Delhi led the second period of the attack index as well. Good play by Junker and Santos that made Arindham to dive. Pole denied Pennant a goal and the home team a lead. None of the teams could score in the first half but the attack index for the third period favoured the home side. Arindham dived towards his right to prevent Shylo from scoring and managed to do so with his sharp reflexes as the ball was saved from the left side. Junker took a shot but Arindham deflected it for a corner. Ravanan 'took the ball on his chest' by Santos. Del Piero for Shylo!! Dos Santos made a telling run and from a tight angle netted the ball to break the dead lock and to provide the visitors with a lead in the dying minutes of the game. Four minutes of added time could not do much for the home team and they lost their last home game of the season.

Goa have started playing well at the right time. With a win over the table toppers, they secured their birth for the knock outs.
Delhi won the game but it wasn't a great performance by them. Their win ensured the other five teams that they can still fight for a place in the semi finals. 

Day 50 and 51, Match 48 and 49

When Pune and Mumbai last met, the dream city demolished their opponent with a 5-0 win. Now was the perfect time for Pune to take revenge of their defeat in their own background.

It was essential for Northeast to win this match or at least settle for a draw if they want to be in the League. A lose here would see them leaving the game because of low points.

FC Pune City (2) - Mumbai City FC (0)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2

Courtesy:ISL

Even though it is Maharashtran derby and not Manchester derby, we still feel pretty exited! The guests, Mumbai, started the game but soon it was Pune's Pritam who was running with the ball. Dudu received the ball from Pritam and sent it straight in the hands of the Keeper. Mumbai got a corner in the initial minutes of the match but Friedrich headed it just above the bar. Kwang-11 Park created pressure on the visitors with his dribbling and passing skills. Paul again denied Dudu. Katsouranis with an on-target shot. Paul really had to sweat because of Pune's continuous attacks. Pune highly dominated the attack index in the first half (92% to 8%). Costa got injured and Mumbai had to do a forced substitution; Didika entered. Cmovs was the only player in Mumbai's defence who tried really hard to protect Paul. Mumbai finally came into action at the brink of the first half but in that attempt Friedrich got injured as his head got collided with that of Abhishek's when the Indian forward was trying to direct the ball into the net. The second half began with a dramatic event. Didika's shot touched Pritam's hand and Mumbai derived a penalty out of it. Tiago took the shot and Arindham successfully stopped it by diving to his right. What a save it was! This not-so-powerful attack must have really given Reid a heart attack. Handball against Vadocz's shot. After a lot of show, the match saw its first goal. With Katsouranis' assist, Dudu finally broke the ice in the home teams favour. The duo brought delight to the supporters again as after a few minutes of the first goal, Katsouranis set up Dudu again and the Nigerian forward scored again. Mumbai lost all hope after two goals from Pune and it was prominent in their performance. Pune avenged their previous defeat!

Kerala Blaster FC (0) - Northeast United FC (0)

Formation: 4-1-3-2 and 3-4-3

Courtesy:ISL

The home team took charge early in the game with the help of their favourite Iain Hume. He first came with two continuous headers and then with a defence breaking run. Though he couldn't do much with it but it surely pressurized the visitors as the forward has early goals registered under his name. While clearing a ball, the Keeper ran into Hume and got hurt in the process. It was a neck to neck competition as Kerala presented their creative strikers while Northeast promoted their strong defence. Northeast finally had a chance to score the first goal of the evening through Felipe and Miguel Garcia but after a little struggle the ball was cleared. Pearson's shot was very near to the goal. Kerala were very close to find the opener but the first half did not see any ball in the net. The second half saw Hume once again deflecting the ball with his head. Orji was brought down by Len. This wasn't a penalty but it deserved some action as opposed to referee's decision to play-on. Milagres' ball hit Robin on the arm. We are certain that it was a penalty in home team's favour. James Keene reacted to hit Chopra for his tackle and was booked with a red card. Well, it was the home team that dominated the game till the end but couldn't score even in front of a team with ten players. Both the teams had to share points for this match.

Courtesy:ISL

It was an easy win for Pune against Ranbir Kapoor's team. For the other match, Kerala could have easily capitalised on the red card situation of their opponent. They created many telling chances and were fierce but at the end it is the score board that really matters. 

Day 49 and 50 , Match 46 and 47

Goa and Northeast won their previous matches which gave both the teams a boost. Capdevila is on a red card and his suspension means weak defence of the visitors. It was Northeast's chance to prove that they were worthy enough to hold second position in the first round. Baichung's land, however faced defeat away from home.

Kolkata desperately needed three points to secure their birth for the knockouts and Delhi wanted these three points to keep their hope in the League alive. After a short lived winning streak of two matches, Delhi had to settle for a draw with Kolkata on their home ground.

FC Goa (3) - Northeast United FC (0)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2

Courtesy:ISL

The visitors started the came but lost possession way too early, giving Santos of the home team, a chance to create an early opportunity. Goa made it very clear to the Northeast that they mean some serious business. The home team used both the flanks and played some good crosses and passes. Northeast's defence, as predicted, was frail to an extent that Rehenesh had to work more as the fourth defender than a Keeper (no, we are not comparing him to Neuer). Mandar gave away a free kick to Boithang  by pulling him down. Mtonga pulled a muscle, adding to the woes of the visitors. Goa was more assertive since the beginning, stretching the gap in the attack index, as the game progressed. Romeo's left foot scored ISL's 100th goal! Goa with a lead. Following his injury, Mtonga made way for Keene. Chansa passed the ball to Keene who shot it just above the cross bar. That was the perfect space there where the visitors could have evened the score. Adinga's poor choice to pass the ball instead of taking the shot himself snatched away Northeast's second chance to cancel Romeo's goal. Slepicka couldn't see his opponents wasting such telling chances, so, he decided to double his team's tally. Goa walked in with high spirit as the ref blew half time's whistle. The second half brought no respite to the visitors. Their backline was already weak, Miguel Garcia twisted his ankle to cause more harm. Chansa slipped the ball. Unbelievable! Northeast lost another chance. Koke's shot forced Seda to dive. Garcia and Josl were tripped inside the box. That could have been a penalty but the ref didn't agree. Goa's Brazilian star assured his team of a home victory by netting their third goal of the evening. It was a comfortable win for the home side.

Delhi Dynamos (0) - Atletico de Kolkata (0)

Formation :4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1

Courtesy:ISL

Kolkata started the game by providing an early free kick to the home team. Junker with a chance to score but was easily contained by the defender. With an early free kick, we saw an early booking too. Kolkata's defender Arnab got the yellow card for his rash tackle on Arnab (predictable and expected from Kolkata!). The home team controlled the early minutes of the game. Souvik to Junker, Junker's shot deflected, Souvik collected it again but only to find the Keeper. Great team play by Delhi Dynamos and excellent presentation of skills by Edel. To deflect Pody's corner, van Hout left his line and fell. That was Kolkata's golden opportunity to break the ice but Masih's shot was nowhere near the net. Fikru came into action in the dying minutes of the first half but couldn't do much to flip their score. The first half saw no goal from either of the teams. The second half began with the home team substituting Souvik for Shylo. Dos Santos took the shot but the Keeper stretched and denied him. After a few feeble attempts came a series of free kicks and it favoured none! Although Delhi dominated the game till the end, They couldn't score. One of the justification for this draw is lack of creativity in front and strong defence system. This was true in case of both the teams, so, none of the teams could grab all the three points.

Courtesy:GoogleImages

With every passing game, Zico's men are proving their merit. Northeast needs to seriously work on their defence. The mystery behind using a player like Del Piero as a bench warmer has not only been nudging us but has started to built up a conversation in the newspapers and social media sites as well. There are speculations that it is the sour relationship of the manager and the player that is keeping the Italian international away from the turf. Whatever the reason maybe, we are concerned that it can spoil ISL's growth, making international players lose confidence in the League. Del Piero was the most excited signing of ISL and people really want to see him play (besides this is getting really frustrating too!). We sincerely hope that Harm van Veldhoven tries to understand this and makes his Marquee show some skills!  

Day 47 and 48, Match 44 and 45

 Pune have managed to score in their backyard every time and Kolkata never failed to score on others' ground, as a result, instead of a goalless draw we had a draw in which both the competitors scored and maintained their stats.

Kerala blasters have managed to rise form the scratch. No one believed that the team would be in top four. James has managed his team well but Chennai is a team everyone is scared of. They defeated Kerala for the second time.

FC Pune City (1) - Atletico de Kolkata (1)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-3-1

Courtesy:ISL

Pune were the leader in the dawn of the game. Katsouranis built up an opportunity for Davide who hit it wide. Kolkata soon took over and Podani (Pody) came with a goal for the visitors just within 11 minutes of the kick off. This was a shocker as it was the home team that was leading the attack index. Following this they failed to score from the free kick given to them in a dangerous position. Wadoo deserved a booking for tackling Pody on ankle. Vadocz brilliant on target volley was deflected by Edel. We felt bad for the midfielder. The home team looked desperate for an equalizer. They came up with a series of on target shots. Pennant, Dudu and Vadocz, all were brilliant but finally it was the Greek midfielder, Katsouranis, who took advantage of Josemi's poor clearance to cancel Pody's goal. Both teams scored one goal each before the half time. Kolkata opened the second half with Fikru in possession of the ball but ultimately it were the home team that seemed threatening. Edel punched Josemi (it was funny!). Kolkata must thank Edel for saving Katsouranis' powerful strike. Some action came from Garcia. As the game progressed the attack index started to tilt more in the home team's favour. Garcia with a wide shot. When Jofre (in a different hair cut) stepped in for Garcia, Pune fumbled a bit. he came and broke the defence with ease. In search of a winning shot, both the teams committed many unnecessary fouls. There  were illegal challenges that hurt players including Pody and Pennant but the score remained even.


Kerala Blasters (0) - Chennaiyin FC (1)

Formation: 4-4-2 and 4-3-1-2

Courtesy:ISL

The game started on a strange note with a foul in the second minute and Balwant's back header for no reason. He could have scored. No one had any idea about his action! Both the teams pushed hard for an opening goal. Chennai led the attacking index by 92% (wow, that is something). David James picked up an injury in their previous match. He did not recover well so had to leave the turf in between the game. Mendy provided Jeje with a perfect ball but the striker shot it above the crossbar. As the game progressed, the home team started to settle. Keepers definitely were having tough luck. Chennai's goalie collided with an opponent. Fortunately, he got back up soon but that was a powerful collision. Balwant was very sloppy. The first half saw no goal from either of the teams. Iain Hume started the second half by wasting the most profitable chance created by his team yet by shooting the ball off post. There were a lot of collisions happening in the game. Milagres ran into Mendy and Suarez while attempting an aerial. Silvestre received a yellow for his argument with the referee on a free kick given against his side. Pelissari for Cristian. The Brazilian substitute received the ball inside his own half. He ran all the way to the other half and scored! The goal came at eighty-seventh minute that made the home crowd go hush. Pelissari proved to be the super sub who fetched his team three points. Chennai have qualified for the knock-outs!

Courtesy:ISL

We have to say that each team fought very hard to earn the points but Chennai was sublime. We can not stop extolling this team. They maintained a wide gap in the attack percentage. They are a strong team that is getting more confident with each passing match.

Day 45 and 46, Match 41 and 42, 3-0!

When the teams previously met. Kerala scored 1 goal against Goa's closed account. Both the teams are on fire by defeating some strong teams. Knockouts are close and a win would mean respite for both the teams.

The match between Northeast and Chennai is a clash between table toppers and the team at the bottom. Northeast surprised all the followers by defeating the reigning team by 3 goals. They seem to be getting back to their old days.

FC Goa (3) - Kerala Blasters FC (0)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2

Courtesy:ISL

With the kick off, it was the home team, Goa, that dominated the game. Kerala started but lost the possession rather easily to their opponents. Bikramjit was not careful even when he was caring two yellow cards from previous matches. Ozbey's shot hit the cross bar and reached Santos. The Brazilian quickly took the shot but James' dive deflected it for a corner. When Amiri tried to head the corner for a goal, James saved it with one hand. Terrific performance by the Englishman. Barisic shot straight into Seda's hands. Goa led the attack index with a margin of 38%.9 (This is huge!). An early substitution for Goa as Ozbey made way for Slepicka. A good attempt by Bikramjit but Jhingan blocked him. A lot of rough tackles and some yellow cards. Santos came in with a beautiful pass to Mandar outside the 18 yard box. The forward decided to go for glory when a pass would have solidified their chances of goal. The ball went straight into the hands of the keeper and none of the teams could open their account before the first half. The second half started with double substitution for the visitors. Milagres for Godwin and Kerala's favourite, Hume, for Romey. The substitutes displayed great work. They provided a thorough ball to Barisic who couldn't hold it well. Hume to Pearson, a good run by the midfielder but was intercepted. We are again going to use the expression, 'David James!'. Kerala used their three substitutions. Jhingan brought Narayan on turf but the referee mistook him for Hume and gave the Scottish forward a yellow card. Poor decision by the ref. Santos put a curling free kick straight into Slepicka's feet and Czech forward's kick found the back of the net. Milagres' selfish shot hindered the guests to find a goal. The man who sent a perfect curling ball for the first goal, doubled the lead. Santos put Romeo's pass to the best use. Goa up by 2! James was uneasy. Kerala definitely needed a replacement but unfortunately they had used up their three subs. Slepicka's second goal for the evening. A good play by Bikramjit and Slepicka. James tried hard but the home team capitalised on the injured Keeper. It was the worst performance by Kerala's defence. They failed to guard their injured Keeper. Goa won by 3 goals.

Northeast United FC (3) - Chennaiyin FC (0)

Formation: 3-5-2 and 4-3-3

Courtesy:ISL

Northeast started the game but Chennai won the first corner. Mendy stood strong as a wall as Koke and Boithang tried to earn a goal. Koke has looked very furious to score in the previous matches. He comes up with good runs but lack of team support that has been hindering his performance greatly. Koke to Garcia and Garcia to Adinga. Their game challenged the keeper's judgement as he ran in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, Northeast couldn't turn the moment in their favour Mtonga's shot went over the cross bar. That was a really poor shot. The attack from the home team continued. They created pressure on the guests since the beginning but lacked final touch. Their wait, however, ended early as Durga scored in the tenth minute of the game. It was a result of a wrong pass Chennai's defender as in order to block Boithang, Djemba-Djemba sent the ball straight to the Indian forward. The second goal from the home team looked so easy. Koke sent in the ball and Massamba headed it at the back of the net. Surprising or weird, we are not sure but the same thing happened in the game just after two minutes of the second goal. Koke took the free kick and Massamba scored! Northeast had 3 goals in their account before 25 minutes of the kick off! Capdevila received a yellow card just before the end of the first half. Balwant created a good opportunity but his want to take the shot himself prevented Chennai's opportunity to get back into the game as the second half progressed. Cristian scored for Chennai but the ball was declared off side. Northeast showed lack in their defence but Chennai couldn't exploit it. Balwant. He stood like a statue when he had a great opportunity to score. He showed poor sense of judgement in this match. Koke for Bertos (we don't agree). Capdevila received his second yellow for the evening for bringing Maurice down. The home team had 10 players now.  Chennai tried really hard during the second half but mostly went wide. Northeast's crowd was ecstatic with their teams 3-0 win over Chennai.

Courtesy:ISL

Northeast could have easily made it four in the first half. Though the home team managed to win, we had some serious concern whether they would be able to maintain their lead as their defence was so fragile during the second half of the game. This was the first time after Elano's injury that we yearned for the Brazilian. For Goa, we just want to say, "keep it going like this lads and you can reserve your birth for the knock outs!"

Day 42 and 43, Match 39 and 40!

Two amusing matches. All the teams tried their best but we got balled over by Chennai!

Mumbai City FC (0) - Chennaiyin FC (3)

Formation:   4-1-4-1 and 4-3-1-2

Courtesy:ISL

When Chennai last hosted a match with Mumbai, the home team won 5-1. Mumbai desperately wanted to avenge their defeat with a home win this time but unfortunately they couldn't stand strong in front of our new table toppers.
The opening ten minutes of the game favoured the home team. They enjoyed the possession and were able to acquire a free kick that Moritz failed to positively utilize. After this the game saw very less breath taking moments till the end of first half. Denson's shot made Paul bend on his knees. Jeje fouled on Moritz, giving Mumbai a free kick. Cmovs took the shot but the ball went wide. Jeje received a yellow for the event. The hosts built some pressure on the guests. Didika acquired the ball from Mendy and passed it to Moritz but the shot was saved by the keeper. Mumbai drew another chance as the ball fell in front of Barcigliano but the defender cleared this as well. Moritz picked up a hamstring pull and was sent off. Ljungberg came in place of the Mumbaian striker. Team work by Balwant and Jeje. A mediocre first half made way for a captivating second half. An animated Peter Reid! Silvestre first strongly challenged Tiago and then Subhash. His frustration is eminent. Jeje created a golden opportunity but the defender held that. Pelissari was intercepted by Balwant. He immediately received another ball from Jeje only to score this time. Chennai with a lead. Mumbai failed to score from a free kick but their opponents did not. Dhana calmly drove the ball, once deflected by Paul, into the net. Chennai up by 2 goals! Cristian's strike went straight through Paul. another goal for the visitors. Four minutes stoppage time did nothing for the home team and Chennai easily swept away 3 points.

Northeast united FC (1) - Delhi Dynamos FC (2)

Formation: 4-1-3-2 and 4-3-3

Courtesy:ISL

It was the clash of two teams that once looked very promising. These teams are placed at the bottom of the table. Their last meeting was a goalless draw. Del Piero on the bench yet again!
It was the home team that started the game. Dynamos enjoyed possession but Shylo worked against the team. He took a shot when a pass was needed and the ball went flying off post. Dos Santos came with a blinder in the fifth minute and Delhi had an early goal. It was Mulder who came with an early goal in the previous game. Dos Santos provided Mulder with a perfect pass which the Dutch midfielder converted into a goal. The home team was definitely under pressure as Delhi had scored 2 goals well within first fourteen minutes of the kick off. Chansa with a lovely aerial ball for Koke but the Spaniard's weak strike sent the ball above the crossbar. Chansa did well as an attacking midfielder. He was Northeast's playmaker. It is only because of him that the gap in the attack-index shortened. By the end of the first half it looked as if the visitors were exasperating the home team with useless passes. Lights go off for the second time in the League; led to a delay in the start of second half. Northeast was in attack mode later in the first half. They started the other half with same spirit. Adinga crossed the ball towards Len who headed it over the post. Van Hout saved the team from double attacks by Do and Chansa. Northeast started to break their opponents defence. Dos Santos on strike again. Koke missed and that must have hurt as it was such a powerful strike. Koke sent the corner and Mtonga headed it for a goal. Van Hout to the rescue as he held Chansa. Padilla lost a golden opportunity in during the injury time. The match could have been a draw but ended in visitors' favour.

Courtesy:ISL

Chennai proved once again that they can manage without their star player. We think hat with their present form, they can easily claim the title. We saw no hope for Mumbai as they were being annihilated by the visitors.
Delhi saved three points against Northeast but the team did not impress us. Northeast's attack was stronger. It was Delhi's defence that saved them, otherwise, the game belonged to the home team. 

Day 41 and 42, Match 37 and 38

Kerala vs Kolkata and Goa vs Pune. The fixtures produced mixed predictions as the League is becoming highly unpredictable. The teams who stood strong so far have started to shake while the underdogs are prancing and leaping in the standings.

Kerala Blasters FC (2) - Atletico de Kolkata (1)

Formation: 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1

Atletico are dethroned by Chennai from the top position while Kerala is on a winning spree with 4 continuous victories. Last time when the teams met, they settled for one point each ,but this time the results were unexpected. The game commenced with an early goal by the home team, Kerala. Iain Hume received a perfect pass from Gusmao and shot it straight through Roy's hands to provide his team with a 4th minute goal. This lead endowed the home team with great confidence as they pushed for more goals. Romey's clearance could have led to a home goal but went wide. Gurwinder ceased Jofre's run. Jofre seemed to be the only player urging his team to go forward. He created a handful of opportunities and succeeded to acquire a corner which his team mates failed to utilize. Fikru broke into a bicycle kick and missed by a fraction. David James! Pedro Gusmao, the man who provided the assist for the early goal, scored for the home team to add on to their outcome. Kerala was up by 2 goals before the half time. The other half started with Kolkata's Marquee player, Luis Garcia, entering the field. Fikru's eagerness was visible by his off side run. Kerala made a defensive error only to give Fikru an opportunity to score and get back in the game as he scored his fourth goal of the League. Gusmao had to be substituted because of an injury. The home team were persistent in creating telling chances, the closest being Godwin's strike. The game ended in Kerala's favour but we still have our doubts. Garcia's 90th minute strike could have been a side line goal, however, the referee was not convinced by it. 3 points for Kerala!

FC Goa (2) - FC Pune City (0)

Formation:4-2-3-1 and 4-2-3-1

When the teams met previously, Pune defeated Goa in their own background by scoring 2 goals while Goa couldn't open their account. The scoreboard reciprocated the previous tally only the winners were different. The first half, well, Andre Santos took the free kick and Romeo easily converted it into goal cum lead for the home team, Goa. Gregory's fault gifted the visitors a free kick just outside the box. This could have been Pune's golden chance to cancel Romeo's goal had Katsouranis' strike found the back of the net. Pune surely were keen to score but their final strikes were weak. Romeo was the home team's best man on the pitch. He was assisting, scoring, connecting and defending (just like Angel di Maria's first game for Manchester United!). Pune surely noticed it and Pennant decided to bring the Goan man down. Lenny's strikes were saved by Seda.  The home team proceeded towards the dressing room with a lead. Second half and Goa again on strike. Gregory held Dudu. Abranches... What a presentation of skills by Pennant but this man killed all the efforts as he couldn't take advantage of the assist. More on target shots came from the home team. Katsouranis' bicycle kick hit the cross bar and even Cirillo hit the right pole. During the stoppage time, Miranda was brought down. This assassinated Pune's hope to look for an equalizer but brought joy to the Goan fans as Slepicka converted the free kick into another goal for the home team. Goa now holds the fourth position in the league.

Kerala Blasters and FC Goa both had a poor start in the tournament. Both the teams have raised their game and are now giving tough competition to the presumably stronger teams in the league. Goa's victory over Pune is a perfect example of sweet revenge.

Day 38 and 39 ,Match 35 and 36.

A huge Gallic roar from the viewers as they finally witnessed some exiting matches this week. Both the teams of the matches have faced each other before. The result was the same, however, the techniques changed.

Atletico de Kolkata (1) - Northeast United FC (0)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-3-2

We always look forward to the Eastern derby as this is the side of the country that has inbred football. Kolkata have been out of form lately. They defeated the Northeast when the teams last met in Guwahati. The result was still the same as Kolkata succeeded to pick up 3 points after 4 games. The game started with a rather shaky home team as the players looked struggling to establish their layout. Felipe tried a long shot but was wide off the right post. Rehenesh misjudged and moved forward. He soon realized his mistake and in the urgency to hold his position again, he fouled on Fikru. The goalie was booked for the action. Garcia missed a great opportunity. Rehenesh was out of place but the ball went over the post. That could have been a crucial 21st minute goal for the home team. Roy saved a good corner taken by Northeast. Yet another corner for the guests, taken by Koke and headed by Mtonga. Roy, however again saved his side. Massamba tried to direct the ball with his head and instead slammed into Garcia's back. He was booked for the action. Both the teams tried their luck but none could score as the referee blew half time's whistle. The other started with Fikru's off target shot. this was not expected from the Ethiopian. Garcia tried and the ball went above the crossbar. He again came into action as he scored from a ball that first touched Borja and then was passed by Jofre. Koke wasted a free kick that he drew from Baljit Sahni. The visitors lost confidence after Kolkata's goal. They repeatedly made mistakes in all the areas. Fikru's theatrical (he went down deliberately, at least we vote for that!). Later in the second half, Kolkata changed their technique and instead of looking for more goals, they guarded their half and kept the possession. Northeast failed to capitalise some amazingly near the post free kicks. Kolkata with a home victory!

Chennaiyin FC (3) - FC Pune City (1)

Formation: 4-3-1-2 and 4-1-4-1

Before the game started, we prayed for a different result than last time's draw. Yeah! God listens to us. This was by far the most thrilling match of the week or shall we say of the second round. The score remained nil till the end of the first half but we surely saw some great passes and crosses. 3 players were substituted during the first quarter due to injuries. Chennaiyin star player Elano Blumer and Gouramangi went off and Pune had to substitute Magliocchetti. Pune's keeper had to budge more as compared to the home teams keeper. Defence was alert and intercepted their visitors' passes with accuracy. The tempo of the game rose in the later half. First Dhana and then Valencia tried to score but Arindham quickly collected the ball. Gurung had unconvincing disposition. Dudu for Trezeguet. India's very own Balwant assisted Valencia for the home team's first goal. Valencia provided Pelissari with the ball but Arindham's reflexes saved the team. ISL's first own goal. A pass from Davide urged Djemba-Djemba to go for the goal. The only problem was that he pushed the ball inside his own team's net, (remember Marcello's own goal in FIFA World Cup's opening match). 1-1 now! Pelissari couldn't wait and scored to give the home time a lead again. Valencia picked up a hamstring injury and had to leave the turf for Maurice. During the course of three minutes stoppage time, Balwant again became the man with an assist that Jeje converted into a goal. Chennai won in spite some of their crucial players got injured.

These were two delightful games. Northeast adapted differently this time by marking Fikru, as last time it was Garcia who was on the radar while the Ethiopian played freely. For Chennai vs Pune, technically it was the home team that scored all the four goals. Pune could have exploited Chennai's injury crises but they failed to take any advantage of that. Chennai proved that they can manage without their star players as they play as a team and do not rely on limited players. Chennai won our heart!

Day 35 and 37,Match 32 and 34

Draw! Draw, draw and goalless draw..
We know you're tired of reading this word repeatedly; trust us, so are we. This is like deja vu. But what can be done. We have to write and you have to read (wink).

Courtesy:ISL

Northeast United FC (0) - FC Pune City (0)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1

Courtesy:ISL

Jermaine Pennant made his début for FC Pune City. During the entire first half none of the teams succeeded to keep the possession. A general link that the midfield creates between the front line and the back line, was absent from both the competitors. Wide shots came from Len and Davide. Koke's corner kick was not capitalised by his team mates. Similar error occurred after just 3 minutes when Capdevila's wide header wasted Koke's corner kick. Rehenesh denied the guests a lead by saving Davide's left footed shot. Koke and Len created a great momentum. Their team work was a delight to watch. Great pass, sharp turn but a wide curling shot by Mtonga surely killed the move. The first half ended with way too many wide shots. Except for Davide's striking shot and Len and Koke's team work, nothing really excited the audience. The second half was the polar opposite of the first half. Both the teams created many telling opportunities. It started with the Spaniard, Koke, who made a run into the box. Pune's defender on rescue as he saved Alen's ball. Pune used their second new signing in the game by calling back Davide for Vadocz. Katsouranis tried twice to score but was held by the opposite team. Both the teams used their three substitutions. Good chances were created by the teams but it was the home team that dominated the rest of the game. Northeast United had more shots on targets and committed lesser fouls. The game ended in a draw. Again!

Mumbai City FC (0) - FC Goa (0)

Formation: 4-4-2 and 4-4-2

Courtesy:ISL

Last time when the teams met for the Maharashtran derby, we witnessed a goalless draw. Although, Goa pushed really hard to win those desperately needed three points, the game duplicated their previous result. We saw Zico's team in a better form as the teams settled for one point each. Mumbai started the game by holding the possession. Santos provided Mandar with the ball inside the 18 yard box. Gregory made a silly mistake by letting Anelka loose. Fortunately enough the ball hit the cross bar. Subhash played one-two with Stohanzl but the latter put in a bit more force than required and Subhash lost the control. Subhash wasted an extraordinary chance provided to him by Andre Moritz. He had ample space in front of him but he missed the post. Paul denied Gabriel. Moritz attempted a bicycle kick but the ball went wide. Mumbai were able to drill into the Goan space during the first 45 minutes of the game but failed to find the back of the net. Goa received a corner in the budding minutes of the second half. Anelka and Moritz created many opportunities for their team. Amiri, who entered in place of Pires, blew Moritz' face with an elbow attack. This is the point where we disagreed with the ref. That was surely a penalty in favour of the home team. After a series of corner, Ozbey was able to get past the mighty wall of Paul but the goal post killed the moment.

Courtesy:ISL

Why dear DRAW, why? Why have you fallen in love with ISL?
Goa gave Mumbai a tough time and Northeast United is becoming predictable. After reading these matches, we have come to the conclusion that it is the attack that lacks. Defenders are doing their job and goalies are brilliant. Forwards take the ball near the box and as soon as our hands move towards our face (as we expect that they're going to shoot), they pass the ball. Last minute passing is not required at all. Players go for glory when a team mate is at a better scoring position and pass the ball when the probability to score is high. Forwards must have confidence to take the final shot if the want complete three points.

Day 33 and 36, Match 30 and 33. Oh! Delhi..

At the end of the first round of the League, Delhi was in the top four. With Del Piero as their Marquee player, it was expected that Harm van Veldhoven's men will raise their game in the second round. Unfortunately, Delhi Dynamos FC have failed to keep up with their tag line 'Thok Denge'.

Delhi have been performing consistently poor. Out of numerous games, their maiden win was against Chennai. They are so out of the form that they now hold the last position in the standings. They have tasted two back-to-back defeats this week; one was against Goa and the other came from Kerala.

Delhi Dynamos FC (1) - FC Goa (4)

Formation: 4-4-1-1 and 4-1-4-1

Courtesy:ISL

During the first half of the game, both the teams that lay at the bottom of the table, played well. Delhi lack creativity in attack. The game started with Delhi's Skoubo missing to convert a free kick in the budding hours. Goa created two continuous chances but were denied by the defence. Goa, however, did not miss the third opportunity as Bengelloun's strike found the back of the net. All the chances created by the Home team were held easily by the Guest's defence. Except for a nearly accurate attempt by the young Brazilian, Dos Santos, all the other attempts by Delhi were frail and predictable for the defence to clear. Mulder brought Pires down at the dawn of the second half of the game. Bengelloun's header for Andre Santos' curling ball gave Goa a lead by two goals. Van Hout made an error by bringing down Pires. Delhi paid heavily for this fatal mistake as the referee awarded Goa with a penalty which Pires took, providing the team with another goal within 5 minutes. Ozbey gave another blow as he scored the fourth goal for the Guests. Debarata's extended hand accorded Delhi a penalty which Dos Santos took. Delhi's crowd was not satisfied as their only goal came from a penalty kick. The game ended with Del Piero on bench and Goa with three points.

Delhi Dynamos FC (0) - Kerala Blasters (1)

Formation: 4-4-1-1 and 4-3-3

Courtesy:ISL

Del Piero in the starting line up gave the home audience a reason to cheer. Defence has always been Delhi's strongest point. But this much celebrated back line's slip in the opening minutes sent shivers to the followers. Del Piero took the corner kick and Shylo crossed it inside the box but the ball received no further assistance. Hume's beautiful, absolutely beautiful moves with the ball. Del Piero unselfishly passed the ball to Shylo but it was deflected by the defender. Team-mate Adil? Mad Junker passed the ball to Del Piero which the Marquee player headed towards the goal post only to find Adil unintentionally blocking it. Del Piero and Delhi are going through a rough patch, we suppose! Raymaekers picked by an injury at the end of the first half and had to be substituted. Well, this definitely wasn't good way for the Home team to start the second half. After Hume's failed attempt to score for his team, Del Piero built up a telling chance for his team. He passed the ball to Junker who further passed it to Mulder but Jhingan stopped the midfielder to score. Orji, who came as a substitute for Romey, changed the course of the game. With Hume's assist he broke the dead lock giving Kerala a lead. After a few set pieces, substitutions and numerous attempts by the home team, the game ended in favour of the Visitors.

Courtesy:ISL

Delhi lost twice on the home ground within a week but it is to be noticed that they played differently in both the matches. Delhi vs Goa brought the capital a humiliating defeat. The players struggled, largely in the second half. One could easily calculate that the Dynamos lacked in almost every area. Delhi vs Kerala saw the home team in a better shape. Delhi dominated the game even in the second half, which is considered to be their feeble quarter. Del Piero produced ample telling chances. He and Junker bring creativity to the field which the team definitely lacks as this is the team with least number of goals conceded (5). Van Veldhoven trusts Dos Santos (we just can not convince ourselves to see why). In such a situation Veldhoven can use 4-3-3 with Dos Santos playing alongside Del Piero and Junker. Though, we would like to see Skoubo as a forward and Dos Santos as an attacking midfielder or a winger. Del Piero and Junker are class players, van Veldhoven should use them more often.