#IndianSoccerLeague2016 #ISL 2016
#LetsFootball #Tournament #RoundUp
So, the #ISL Season 3 is finally over and #ATK deservedly won the final and the trophy for second time in 3 years. #KeralaBlasters came agonizingly second, yet again and will have to wait another year for a shot at glory.
Here's a round up of the entire tournament:
Week 1: #NEUFC North East United FC were surprise table toppers and #FCGoa were at the bottom stunning everyone.
Week 2: NEUFC started slipping but maintained their top spot. Kerala Blasters hadn't scored a single goal.Wow!
Week after week, the table positions started changing hands quickly especially the top of the table. #MumbaiCityFC held on to the top position the longest.
#PuneCityFC and #NEUFC are the only teams not to participate in finals of any season yet. So, they do need to pull up their socks.
#DelhiDynamos' Souvik Chatterjee clocked most minutes on the pitch for any player this season, an average of 92 minutes on the pitch. That's staggering!
#DDs had a season high of 7,395 passes, almost a thousand more than second placed #ATK.
#ATK won the league, #Kerala won fans and their love.
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#Indian #Soccer #League
#MumbaiCityFC misfiring attack came to life against #KeralaBlasters
On Saturday, facing the best defence in the league, a team that had just registered two wins on the spin while scoring five goals, and coming into the game on the back of a week's rest, Mumbai's misfiring attack — that had just drawn a blank in Goa three days ago — had the odds stacked against them.
Within five minutes of the whistle, the famed Kerala rearguard was breached. It wasn't just a goal that gave Mumbai's attack the confidence which was lacking, but it also set the tone for the rest of the evening. Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation rather than their usual 4-2-3-1, Mumbai's extra man in the middle of the park was telling, right from the outset.
As the #Blasters tried to play their way out, Krisztian #Vadocz won the ball in midfield and immediately found Sunil #Chhetri, who had dropped deep to collect the ball. The Indian captain then found Matias #Defederico on the right side and played it to him first time.
By then, Diego #Forlan had made a run from the left into the space vacated by Chhetri, and Defederico while shielding the ball from the Blasters players, waited for Forlan to reach the danger area and then floated a brilliant through ball with the outside of his foot. Forlan was away. The Uruguayan used his experience and shrugged off Cedric Hengbart's challenge before firing past Graham Stack.
The attacking trio of Forlan-Chhetri-Defederico was combining and inter-changing, and with Cafu bombing forward occasionally, the hosts were creating menace in the Kerala defence. On 13 minutes, the visitors conceded a cheap free-kick just outside the box in the wake of growing pressure from the home side.
It gave Forlan the chance to give fans in India a glimpse of his real quality. He stepped and dispatched the free kick in the top corner in typical Forlan style and Mumbai were simply over the hill and gone too for away for Kerala, even with just 15 minutes played.
What followed was something Mumbai had been doing pretty well already this season. The 2-0 lead gave them the opportunity to control the game and they did just that. While it meant surrendering a bit of possession to the away side, but it hardly bothered the home side who almost never lost their defensive shape.
The back four were solid and very well protected by Sehnaj and Vadocz, while Forlan and Defederico, playing as inverted wingers, immediately dropped back to make it a five-man midfield every time the hosts appeared to lose control of the ball. It wasn't left to chance and it happened every single time.
With every player performing their duties perfectly, it was only in the 90th minute that the visitors got their first shot on target from open play - a hopeful long range effort from full-back #Josu. It also took them 61 minutes to register their first shot on target, which was a tame effort from CK #Vineeth from a set piece.
Despite having 19 points on the board, Mumbai aren't assured of a place in the semi-finals yet, but with such good defensive discipline been shown by the entire team and with a strong attack that's come alive just at the right moment, they are few flaws in the team at the moment.
#DelhiDynamos might have a few things to say, but Mumbai City FC are now the league's team to beat.
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#IndianSuperLeague
ISL #Franchise #KeralaBlasters could be in for trouble, with a complaint being filed against them for 'insulting' the Indian National Anthem.
The complaint, pertains to a few players in the franchise keeping their right hand over their heart during the National Anthem, as is the custom in certain countries. The report stated that had been lodged with the Kochi police after their game against #MumbaiCityFC.
Organizers instructed the franchise not only to ask the players and the player escorts to refrain from the practice, but to announce to the fans via the Public Announcement System to stand in 'attention' while the #National #Anthem is sung, even though there is no official legislation to support the same.
The side have been warned of serious repercussions if they fail to follow the directions. The team officials were reportedly instructed about the same during the Match Commissioner's Meeting (#MCM), which is held a day before every fixture in the tournament.
Kerala Blasters beat Mumbai City FC 1-0 in the fixture in which they committed the alleged 'offence', with Michael Chopra scoring the goal in the 58th minute of the match. The franchise is co-owned by Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
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Courtesy: Getty Images
#ISL2016
#IndianSoccerLeague
#Season3
#NorthEast #United #FC's Indian Super League (#ISL) season has got off to a dream start with two wins from two matches. After beating #Kerala #Blasters in the inaugural match of ISL 3, NorthEast United FC beat #FC #Goa for the first time on Tuesday, and the John Abraham-owned side is already looking a side to watch out for.
NorthEast were confident going into the match against Goa, with new coach Nelo Vinganda making one change to his starting XI from the opening day's victory. Nicolas Velez was on the bench and defensive midfielder Wellington Priori replaced him.
The coach's idea was to add more steel to the midfield, with more cover for the back four. The Highlanders chose to go with only one out-and-out striker in Emiliano Alfaro. The hero of the opening match, Katsumi Yusa, started the match on the right flank with Halicharan Narzary pushed on the left side.
Contrary to the rather dull opening game, this match got off to an exciting start with some brilliant end-to-end action. Yusa is proving to be a shrewd and excellent buy for the side and once again, he created brilliant opportunities for his team. He won an early free kick and earned his team the first sniff of goal in the 12th minute.
In the 20th minute, NorthEast got their lead in a rather bizarre fashion. Goa defender Lucio won an aerial duel with Alfaro and passed the ball back to goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani who took too many touches as he was being hounded by Alfaro.
Kattimani made a pass that hit the onrushing Alfaro's knee and got deflected into the goal. It was a howler by the Goa #Goalkeeper, who just had to pass the ball to one of his teammates, or just kick it long. Instead, he got pressurised and couldn't take the correct decision. NorthEast got their goal with some luck, but credit should go to Alfaro for keeping up the pressure on the Goa keeper. Goa knit some quick passes and tried to equalise, but when in the 62nd minute, Alfaro scored NorthEast's second goal, the Highlanders were ensured three points.
Starting the match without last season's top scorer Nico Velez, NorthEast still managed to score two goals and win, which is good news for the side, as it means the team would not have to rely on one player for goals. If they can have three or four players sharing the burden of getting the goals, they will find the task of crossing the league stage for the first time much easier.
What also helps is that 'Professor' Vingada has evidently tightened the screws at the back. In both the matches, NorthEast have defended obstinately. #Kerala were poor and didn't attack as much, but #Goa offered more in that department. Still the NorthEast defence managed to stand tall.
Subrata Paul is proving to be another great signing for the club. Considering the side already had the services of TP Rehnesh, it seemed odd that the management went ahead and signed another goalkeeper. Arjuna award winner Paul is massively experienced, and while his signing looked ideal for that reason, there were doubts if he would be able to perform as well as he used to when he was younger.
However, Paul has has brilliant, clearing doubts over his abiities. Ten minutes into the second half, he pulled off a blinder of a save when he thwarted a long-range effort from Trinidad Goncalves. Just a few moments later, he was brought into the act again and managed to save Mandar Rao Desai's shot from inside the box and Trinidad's follow-up as well.
With the 2-0 win, #NorthEast handed #FC #Goa what was just their fifth away loss in the history of the ISL. Granted, Kattimani's poor goalkeeping helped, but credit has to be given to NorthEast for their win.
Yusa and Paul have both shown their worth, but perhaps Vingada is the best signing for NorthEast. The coach's tactics, his managerial style and his transfer business cannot be understated. It's been a busy first week for the Highlanders, and their third match comes in just a couple of days' time. It will be their first away match as they face Mumbai City FC at the Andheri Sports Complex. It is already the best start for the side in the ISL, but if NorthEast can get another win, it will be an incredible start to the season, and their title prospects will brighten significantly.
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