With hectic parlaying continuing in the background to ensure that the ISL will next year be branded as the top-tier football league in the country, for now, the winner will grab a direct spot in the AFC Cup (Asia's equivalent of Europe's Europa League). More on the ISL vs I-League here.
Now either the opening ceremony was a low key affair or people on my news feed were just not bothered about it to even post the news links to it. Either way I don't think I missed much.
This year does have 2 more teams taking the tally to 10 teams and hence a longer league than the previous three editions. Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC being the new entrants with the business moghuls TATA making their first foray into franchisee team ownership.
Week 1
7 goals scored this far in week 1 of the competition and they were scored in the last 2 games of the week. The last game of this round is scheduled for 22nd Nov where Pune City host Delhi Dynamos for Pune's first home game of the season.
Game 1: Fri 17/11/2017
#KBATK Kerala Blasters v/s ATK 0-0
The opening game had Kerala Blasters holding defending champions ATK to a goalless draw at the JLN Stadium in Kochi. Kerala Blasters were lacklusture and unimpressive except for an early attempt on the ATK goal by Milan Singh. ATK too had an early attempt on the Blasters goal when Hitesh Sharma forced Paul Rachubka into a good low save inside the box. The second half had substitutions by both sides resulting in the opening up of the game and it ended up with ATK almost scoring in the 70th minute. Jose Branco curled a lovely shot that hit the far post and went out of play. Blasters Dimitar Berbatov, in his ISL debut, had his attempt on the goal saved by Debjit Majumder. Opening game draw for the sides who now move on to their next games where Kerala Blasters host Jamshedpur FC and ATK host Pune City.
Game 2: Sat 18/11/2017
#NEUJAM NorthEast United FC v/s Jamshedpur FC 0-0
In the last 3 seasons, NorthEast United have won only 4 games on the road. This game where they hosted debutants Jamshedpur FC at the GA Stadium in Guwahati was their opportunity to start their season on a winning streak at home. In a game dominated by NorthEast United, Jamshedpur FC did well to hold their defence and come away with a point. The hosts were guilty of leaving numerous chances incomplete and a goalless draw seemed moot halfway through the game.
Game 3: Sun 19/11/2017
#CHEGOA Chennaiyin FC v/s FC Goa 2-3
How apt that that first goal of the season should come from FC Goa and their away game at that! Chennaiyin FC hosted FC Goa at the JN Stadium in Chennai and would have loved to defend successfully on their home turf. Instead, what happened was a fan's delight as 5 goals were scored over 90 minutes with FC Goa scoring 3 goals in the first half and Chennaiyin FC coming back strongly, but not enough, to pull 2 goals back. Ferran Telechea became the first goal scorer of ISL 2017 when he slotted one in for FC Goa. His goal was followed up by one goal each from Manuel Bruno and Mandar Desai. Mandar, one of the few inverted wingers from India in the league, became the first Indian goal scorer for ISL 2017. For Chennaiyin, Calderon pulled one back in the second half while Augusto slotted one in from the penalty spot when Jeje was brought down in the box.
Game 4: Sun 19/11/2017
#BENMUM Bengaluru FC v/s Mumbai City FC 2-0
The second team making their debut in the ISL, Bengaluru FC had an emphatic first game as they beat Mumbai City FC 2-0 with Spaniard Eduardo Garcia and Sunil Chhetri finding the target in a game played at the SK Stadium, Bengaluru. Bengaluru FC was clearly the more dominant side with the home team having 16 shots on target while the visitors could only manage 1. The taking point of the game, however was the muted acceptance by Sunil Chhetri, after he scored the second goal of the game, having scored it against his former club.
TRIVIA:
What do ATK (2014), NorthEast United FC (2015), FC Pune (2016) and Mumbai City FC (2017) have in common?
Sanju Pradhan.
More about him: He started off about a decade ago signing up for East Bengal in 2008. During his time there he represented the Indian national team, won two Federation Cups and the IFA Shield. Hailing from Sikkim, he made his debut in the ISL with the formerly Atletico De Kolkata after a year-long stint with Salgaocar.
Now either the opening ceremony was a low key affair or people on my news feed were just not bothered about it to even post the news links to it. Either way I don't think I missed much.
This year does have 2 more teams taking the tally to 10 teams and hence a longer league than the previous three editions. Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC being the new entrants with the business moghuls TATA making their first foray into franchisee team ownership.
Week 1
7 goals scored this far in week 1 of the competition and they were scored in the last 2 games of the week. The last game of this round is scheduled for 22nd Nov where Pune City host Delhi Dynamos for Pune's first home game of the season.
Game 1: Fri 17/11/2017
#KBATK Kerala Blasters v/s ATK 0-0
The opening game had Kerala Blasters holding defending champions ATK to a goalless draw at the JLN Stadium in Kochi. Kerala Blasters were lacklusture and unimpressive except for an early attempt on the ATK goal by Milan Singh. ATK too had an early attempt on the Blasters goal when Hitesh Sharma forced Paul Rachubka into a good low save inside the box. The second half had substitutions by both sides resulting in the opening up of the game and it ended up with ATK almost scoring in the 70th minute. Jose Branco curled a lovely shot that hit the far post and went out of play. Blasters Dimitar Berbatov, in his ISL debut, had his attempt on the goal saved by Debjit Majumder. Opening game draw for the sides who now move on to their next games where Kerala Blasters host Jamshedpur FC and ATK host Pune City.
Game 2: Sat 18/11/2017
#NEUJAM NorthEast United FC v/s Jamshedpur FC 0-0
In the last 3 seasons, NorthEast United have won only 4 games on the road. This game where they hosted debutants Jamshedpur FC at the GA Stadium in Guwahati was their opportunity to start their season on a winning streak at home. In a game dominated by NorthEast United, Jamshedpur FC did well to hold their defence and come away with a point. The hosts were guilty of leaving numerous chances incomplete and a goalless draw seemed moot halfway through the game.
Game 3: Sun 19/11/2017
#CHEGOA Chennaiyin FC v/s FC Goa 2-3
How apt that that first goal of the season should come from FC Goa and their away game at that! Chennaiyin FC hosted FC Goa at the JN Stadium in Chennai and would have loved to defend successfully on their home turf. Instead, what happened was a fan's delight as 5 goals were scored over 90 minutes with FC Goa scoring 3 goals in the first half and Chennaiyin FC coming back strongly, but not enough, to pull 2 goals back. Ferran Telechea became the first goal scorer of ISL 2017 when he slotted one in for FC Goa. His goal was followed up by one goal each from Manuel Bruno and Mandar Desai. Mandar, one of the few inverted wingers from India in the league, became the first Indian goal scorer for ISL 2017. For Chennaiyin, Calderon pulled one back in the second half while Augusto slotted one in from the penalty spot when Jeje was brought down in the box.
Game 4: Sun 19/11/2017
#BENMUM Bengaluru FC v/s Mumbai City FC 2-0
The second team making their debut in the ISL, Bengaluru FC had an emphatic first game as they beat Mumbai City FC 2-0 with Spaniard Eduardo Garcia and Sunil Chhetri finding the target in a game played at the SK Stadium, Bengaluru. Bengaluru FC was clearly the more dominant side with the home team having 16 shots on target while the visitors could only manage 1. The taking point of the game, however was the muted acceptance by Sunil Chhetri, after he scored the second goal of the game, having scored it against his former club.
TRIVIA:
What do ATK (2014), NorthEast United FC (2015), FC Pune (2016) and Mumbai City FC (2017) have in common?
Sanju Pradhan.
More about him: He started off about a decade ago signing up for East Bengal in 2008. During his time there he represented the Indian national team, won two Federation Cups and the IFA Shield. Hailing from Sikkim, he made his debut in the ISL with the formerly Atletico De Kolkata after a year-long stint with Salgaocar.
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