With the games of Round 1 being split with
4 games in one week and the
fifth game the next week, Round 2 provided a breather with all 5 games being held over one extended weekend.
Game 6: 23/11/2017
#CHENEU Chennaiyin FC v NorthEast United FC 3-0
After struggling with a 3-5-2 formation against FC Goa in their opening game, Chennaiyin reorganised themselves to play a 4-man defence and a 3-man midfield. That solidity in the midfield would help them to strangle the NorthEast United attack that threatened to run riot over Jamshedpur FC in their opening game. Chennaiyin opened their account in this home game in the 11th minute with a deflection from NorthEast United's Hakku resulting in an own goal. But there was nothing to say against Raphael Agusto's exquisite shot that took the score to 2-0 in the 24th minute. A late goal from M. Rafi ensured Chennaiyin FC finished the game 3-0 for only their second win against NorthEast United FC in ISL and their first win at home against their NorthEast rivals.
Game 7: 24/11/2017
#KERJAM Kerala Blasters v Jamshedpur FC 0-0
The second goalless draw in a row for both sides. Home team Kerala Blasters faced their second goalless draw of the season at home and Jamshedpur FC did well to frustrate their attempts and their goalkeeper Paul Rachubka even palmed away 2 attempts from the Blasters in quick succession. Jamshedpur FC did well to weather the onslaught and owe the clean sheet to their acrobatic goalkeeper Rachubka ensured this match will be remembered for his heroics.
Game 8: 25/11/2017
#MUMGOA FC Goa v Mumbai City FC 1-2
MCFC playing at home seem to have given them a boost from their opening game debacle against Bengaluru. A goalless first half did nothing to dampen the spirits as the 'Islanders' and the 'Gaurs' were constantly at each others goals though the 'Gaurs' did have a greater amount of ball possession. The second half had Kattimani make a couple of mistakes, both of which resulted in goals for MCFC. The failure to clear the ball by Kattimani before Everton from MCFC closed in on him, resulted in a rebound going into the goal in the 59th minute. FC Goa to their credit, did create a number of chances to draw parity and even scored a goal but the linesman ruled it as offside which was a clearly debatable call. It was finally in the 82nd minute that Manuel Arana drew parity for FC Goa when he sidestepped the MCFC goalkeeper Amrinder to slot it in. Unfortunately for the Gaurs, Kattimani blundered again when MCFC substitute Thiago Santos nutmegged him in the 87th minute to take MCFC 2-1 up and end the game at that scoreline. All in all, missed chances, denied penalties and a blundering goalkeeper ensured FC Goa did not come away with top honours in a game they should have deservedly won.
Game 9: 26/11/2017
#ATKPUN ATK v FC Pune City 1-4
After an initial goalless draw in their opening game, ATK would have been hoping for a much better performance from their players. Instead, what happened was a complete rout with FC Pune City scoring a goal in the first half and then running slipshod over ATK in the second half. Marcelinho opened the scoring for FC Pune City in the 13th minute and then Bipin SIngh managed to slot in the equaliser in the 50th minute for ATK. But that was all the success that ATK would enjoy. Marcelinho took the corner in the 51st minute for Rohit Kumar to head it in and then in the 60th minute a volley from Marcelinho would come off the ATK defender Jordi and leave Debjit, the ATK goalkeeper stranded as the scoreline would proceed to read 1-3. Pune City would proceed to hammer in the final nai lin the coffin in the 80th minute when, who else but Marcelinho would pass out to Alfaro for him to hammer it in past Debjit and leave the scoreline at 1-4 which it would read at the end of regulation time.
Game 10: 26/11/2017
#BENDEL Bengaluru FC v Delhi Dynamos FC 4-1
Fresh from their opening game trouncing of MCFC, this season's debutants (though going by their performance one would be hard pressed not to say that they are strong title favourites) took Delhi Dynamos FC to the cleaners. DDFC who had also come off a 3-2 victory over FCPC were looking to make inroads into the BFC fortress SK Stadium. Unfortunately for them, Paartalu scored for BFC in the 24th minute from close range and in the 45(+4)th minute via a header from an Edu Garcia pin point delivery in the first half. Lenny Rodrigues knocked in a rebound from the DDFC goalkeeper Gomes in the 57th minute bringing the scoreline to 3-0. DDFC managed to draw one goal back via a penalty in the 86th minute by Kalu Uche after a handball from BFC defender Johnson. A minute later Miku restored the 3 goal cushion after he whipped in a Sunil Chhetri assisst past Albino Gomes to finally end the game at 4-1.
In the 2 games on display from the first two rounds, Bengaluru FC have been the most impressive side on display. It is not without reason that they are considered title favourites. Founded in 2013, they participated in the I-league for four seasons and won the I-league twice as well as the Federation Cup twice. They were the first team from India to reach the final of the AFC Cup in the 2015-16 season and were unlucky on missing out on their second successive AFC Cup Final this year. One would definitely hope the other franchises pick up on the management practices from this club.
