ISL Round 2 results

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.

Hero I-League launched and first match results

On 21st November, a significantly low-key but glittering opening ceremony, attended by the team captains and coaches, served to launch the 11th edition of Hero I-league as the premier football league in the country for the last time. The talk about ISL taking over next year has been discussed time and again with many a die-hard football fan not pleased with the proceedings but one can only wait and watch.

The proceedings will have kicked off on Nov 25, 2017 and culminate on Mar 6, 2018. Joining the action this year will be three new clubs: Gokulam Kerala FC from Calicut, Neroca FC from Imphal and Indian Arrows from Delhi. The Indian Arrows is the AIFF developmental team comprising of the the India U-17 and India U-19 team players. The prize money has also been upped with the winners getting Rs 1 Crore, runners-up getting Rs 60 lakhs, third place getting Rs 40 Lakhs and the fourth place finisher getting Rs 25 lakhs.

Game 1: 25/11/2017
#MPFCvMB Minerva Punjab FC v Mohun Bagan 1-1

The opening game of the season featured debutants Minerva Punjab hosting the 'Mariners', Mohun Bagan at the GN Stadium, Ludhiana. The Mariners' struggled to get going and the same could be seen with the hosts. With most of the game being focussed in the midfield, there were hardly any attempts by either side on the goals early in the game. The deadlock was broken in the first half by Sony Norde in the 43rd minute who took the visitors ahead. However, in the dying moments of the game, Moinuddin Khan (88') equalised for the debutants sending them into rapturous celebrations. The visitors could not make any inroads after that and had to settle for a draw which was definitely not the way they intended to kick off the start to this season. They might also consider themselves as lucky since the debutants missed quite a few opportunities and could easily have been 2 goals up early in the second half. Ivorian Lago Dagbo Bei had a shot hit the post and then after setting Girik Khosla up, saw the striker not able to convert. Even Deepak Devrani failed to score against his old club with his point-blank shot going over the bar.

Delhi Dynamos trounce Pune City 3-2 in their opening game of ISL 2017

Game 5: Wed 22/11/2017
#PUNDEL FC Pune City v/s Delhi Dynamos FC 2-3

After the initial 4 matches of Round 1 held last weekend, the last match of the first round in ISL 2017 was held at the SSC Stadium, Pune and featured FC Pune City hosting Delhi Dynamos FC. A goalless initial 45 minutes served to deceive as the second half featured a goal fest. Delhi dynamos drew first bood and then a second and finally a third to end up with 3 goals by the 65th minute. Paulinho Dias, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Matias Mirabaje did the honours for Delhi Dynamos. To their credit, FC Pune City came back almost immediately in the 67th minute with Emiliano Alfaro pulling one back to open the scoresheet for Pune City this season. But the goal difference proved too much to surmount and Pune City managed to pull only one more back in the 95th minute through Marcos Tebar to finally end the game at 2-3.

ISL Week 1

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.