Mumbai, 28 December 2023: Mumbai City FC struck thrice in the second half to beat Chennaiyin FC by 3-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) to enter the season break and the New Year on a positive note in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24.

Lallianzuala Chhangte rediscovered his goal-scoring touch against his former club, in a match in which he missed a kick from the spot before hammering in a goal in the 52nd minute. The Islanders were on the frontfoot in a gruelling affair from the beginning. Their frontline, though missing Greg Stewart, was creating chances aplenty, but was unable to find a breakthrough past this defensively well-arranged Chennaiyin FC unit.

Vikram Partap Singh was a lively presence in the final third, cutting in the centre from the left flank and teasing the visitors with his fierce shots. One of his efforts just curled past Debjit Majumder in the fourth minute, but the Marina Machans got their act together thereafter. They bolstered the backline, preventing Argentine forward Jorge Pereyra Diaz from finding his seventh goal of the season a few yards away from Majumder. Chhangte, with just one goal to his name in 10 ISL matches before this one, had a golden opportunity to get his team the lead from 12 yards away in the 36th minute, after a foul by Bikash Yumnum. His shot hit the crossbar though, infusing belief within the visitors that they could get the first foot ahead in this game.

That was not to be, and Chhangte started the Mumbai City FC comeback in the second half, drilling the ball into the back of the net courtesy of a fine finish from the right side of the box. The Islanders put up a complete show thereafter, constantly hovering around the Chennaiyin FC box with Diaz and Jayesh Rane falling short of bagging the second goal of the night by mere inches.

Diaz virtually missed shooting into an open net in the 58th minute, but Vikram’s penalty in the 80th minute helped the Islanders get a definite lead in the proceedings. Gurkirat Singh earned the spot-kick due to a foul by Chennaiyin FC captain Ryan Edwards, and the forward’s good friend stepped up to convert the opportunity before breaking into a joyous celebration with the supporters. Gurkirat got his due from the game 10 minutes later, earning the reward of donning the role of an ideal No. 9. At the centre of the box, Lalengmawia Ralte set up a slick pass that Gill slotted in with little hesitation to bag his first-ever goal in his ISL career.

Key Performer of the Match

Vikram Partap Singh (Mumbai City FC)

Vikram produced an all-round performance, covering every blade of the grass, playing a vital role in the build-up, making key passes inside the box and finally securing an important strike through the penalty. He completed 24 of his 31 passes, creating two goal-scoring chances, making two crosses and clearances each to cap off an impressive outing.

What’s next for both teams?

Both teams have rounded off their first half of the ISL 2023-24 campaign with this game.

Brief Scores

Mumbai City FC 3 (Lallianzuala Chhangte 52′, Vikram Partap Singh 80′, Gurkirat Singh 90′) – 0 Chennaiyin FC  

Stat Pack:

Guwahati, 28^th December 2023: FC Goa will try to head into the season break of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on an unbeaten note as they gear up to face NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on December 29, Friday. The Gaurs have arguably been the finest team in the competition this season so far, securing seven wins and drawing twice in their nine encounters so far.

The arrival of Manolo Marquez has reignited the FC Goa fan base. They have played an exciting brand of football, which has produced goals, been solid defensively, and gotten supporters on their feet again. Up against them is a NorthEast United FC unit that started the season strongly, but has slightly faded away off late.

They are on a six-match winless streak at the moment, marginally missing out on positive results many times. The squad might need some reinforcements, but the immediate focus must be to get a desirable outcome against the visiting Gaurs.

The Highlanders were pretty close in taking three points from Bengaluru in their previous game, but had to settle for a point. FC Goa will present a different challenge though, with Marquez’s side conceding the least (4) goals in the league so far. NorthEast United FC has netted 12 times in the last 11 games, but overcoming the visitors in this clash will be a dilemma that their frontline will be eager to unravel.

What’s at stake?

FC Goa

Marquez averages 2.67 points per game against NorthEast United FC across all his stints in the ISL. The Spaniard also has a win percentage of 83.3% against the Highlanders, his highest against any opponent in the competition. The Highlanders are a different side this year, but Marquez is acquainted in dealing with the challenges that they can throw his way. The tactician has managed to get the home-away factor out of the equation for FC Goa this season. His team is also on a four-match unbeaten run in away matches at the moment, which is the longest such active streak for any team in ISL history.

However, their star midfielder Victor Rodriguez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an injury on his right leg, and that can have severe repercussions on their attacking output. Rodriguez had scored and assisted thrice each in nine games this season, averaging a goal contribution every 79.33 minutes he spent on the field. If there ever was a trouble that could hit FC Goa after their picture-perfect start to the campaign, it is this. Marquez’s setting up of the team in the prevalent circumstances will be kept close tabs on. 

NorthEast United FC

The Highlanders are unbeaten in their last five home matches against FC Goa, having won twice and drawn thrice. FC Goa is also the only team against whom NorthEast United FC has scored in each one of their home encounters. They have also found the back of the net in all of their last seven games in the ISL in Guwahati, as their attackers really do get going with the support of their home fans. Juan Pedro Benali’s appointment brought good news for the club, helping them recover from the lows that they had hit last season.

An impressive start to the season fuelled the faith in the tactician, and the head coach will hence be eager to end the year on a positive note. A victory against the unbeaten Gaurs will flare up their spirits and ensure that they head into the season break high on confidence. It will be a difficult task to find a solution to this defensively disciplined FC Goa unit. But, certain openings are bound to come up if the Gaurs opt for a change in structure in Rodriguez’s absence.

Key Players

Sandesh Jhingan (FC Goa)

The seasoned Indian defender has arguably been the most impactful acquisition of the season for FC Goa. His addition to their backline has brought along significant assurance and composure to the entire team. He has been critical in helping them keep six clean sheets in nine matches, playing an average of 32 passes per game. Jhingan has recorded one tackle and 5.77 clearances per game, always remaining a step ahead of the opponents.

He has also scored a goal and has been booked only once, demonstrating his aerial threat and also defensive discipline despite always putting his body on the line. NorthEast United FC have different ways of going about their offensive endeavours, often resorting to surprising long-range efforts that FC Goa will have to thwart away. Jhingan’s spearheading of the defensive line will be crucial in making the Gaurs cap off the year with another clean sheet to their name.

Nestor Albiach (NorthEast United FC)

The Spaniard has been a fresh addition to the Highlanders’ squad, and has been doing the double role of a creative outlet as well as their prime goal-scorer as well. Nestor has netted twice and assisted once so far, connecting the players at the centre of the park to the final third with impeccable ball-playing skills, vision, and an eye for a decisive pass. He can swiftly manoeuvre his way around the opposition’s box, getting into pockets of spaces and launching shots at goal.  Nestor is averaging 4.8 touches in the opposition box per game in ISL 2023-24, the second highest such aggregate by any player in the competition (Noah Sadaoui – 8.6). He has also recorded 48 touches in the opposition box this term, only Noah beating him with 60 of those in the current campaign.

Head-to-Head

Played – 18

NorthEast United FC – 3

FC Goa – 6

Draws – 9

Trivia: Seriton Fernandes has been part of 56 wins with FC Goa in the ISL. Only Sunil Chhetri (59 with Bengaluru FC) and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (58 with Bengaluru FC) have recorded more wins with one club in the competition’s history.

Team Talk

“We are playing against the strongest team at this moment in the ISL. They have great players. It’s a team that doesn’t concede goals easily. They’re very dangerous upfront, and have a lot of quality. Tactically they are very strong and they have a great coach,” NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali assessed his opponent for the coming game.

“It’s always a good feeling to go into any break with a win in the last game. It’s true that it’s difficult to keep winning, but I feel that the team is in a good moment, which is very important because if we win this game then we will have 26 points. To win in this game will be an important step for us,” FC Foa head coach Manolo Marquez said in the pre-match press conference.

ISL Fantasy

Nestor Albiach (4.7cr)

Perhaps the biggest goal-scoring threat from NEUFC

Jay Gupta (3.5cr)

Guaranteed defensive outputs from the left flank

Sandesh Jhingan (5cr)

Leader at the back for the Gaurs

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Where to Watch

Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 SD & HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam) & DD Bangla (Bengali). In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

Points Table

Bhubaneshwar, 28 December, 2023: Odisha FC will host Jamshedpur FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar as the first half of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 campaign draws to an end for both these teams on December 28, Friday.

The Juggernauts have been on a phenomenal run, as they are on a 10-match long unbeaten streak. Sergio Lobera & Co. displayed impressive efficiency during their 1-0 win over Punjab FC away from home. Lobera and his side have now notched three consecutive clean sheets as the defensive solidity and the work put behind that is unfolding really well lately. They have struck an ideal mixture between youth and experience in the setup and that reflects in the exuberance that they show on the field and also the effectiveness with which they seal important moments in their favour. They have the quality in their ranks to outplay the opposition, but are also defensively diligent and well-arranged when the momentum of the game is flowing against them.

Jamshedpur FC will, however, be beaming high on confidence after a thumping 5-0 victory against Hyderabad FC in their last fixture. The Red Miners were seeking a desperate turnaround. Daniel Chima Chukwu scored a fantastic hat-trick as the ISL 2021-22 League Champions will be hoping that the Nigerian addresses their goal-scoring concerns more consistently moving forward.

What’s at stake?

Odisha FC

With 21 points from 11 games, the Juggernauts have gotten themselves in a formidable position to challenge for the top honours. Odisha FC will just be hoping that they don’t let this positive momentum get disrupted anytime soon. Capable of running over opponents on their day, the team has also been smart in overcoming challenging situations to sneak important results.

Jamshedpur FC has a formidable backline at their disposal, and unlocking that would not be an easy task. However, Odisha FC will be similarly well-arranged and hence expect a toe-to-toe contest between the two teams. The forward duo of Krishna and Diego Mauricio add an invaluable element to the Juggernauts.

Jamshedpur FC

It has been a difficult season for Jamshedpur FC, but they will be hoping to make the most of the hope that must have emerged within the camp after a convincing victory against Hyderabad FC. The Red Miners have a host of creative players at their disposal, with the likes of Rei Tachikawa, Alen Stevanovic, Jeremy Monzorro, amongst others showing impressive potential all this while.

Jamshedpur FC will have to be at the top of their game in all departments and be more efficient in optimising opportunities that their creative players and wingers create. At the same time, they have to ensure that they don’t let their guard drop during set-pieces, considering that the Juggernauts can be a threat from them especially due to the duo of Ahmed Jahouh and Mourtada Fall.

Key Players

Isak Vanlalruatfela (Odisha FC)

Isak Vanlalruatfela assisted Roy Krishna’s strike against Punjab FC. The player has improved significantly this season and the consistent run of games that he is being given by Lobera is showing its results. The 22-year-old balances his defensive and offensive duties admirably well, bolstering the midfield in certain situations but also being brave enough to move forward and explore chances in and around the opposition’s box.

His decision making in the final third has become finer and he has some senior counterparts by his side who will convert most of the opportunities that he creates for them. This is Isak’s fourth season in the ISL, but never before arguably has he been in the spotlight like this. He is gradually becoming a regular starter in the setup, and with that comes additional responsibility to produce the deliverables more consistently. Whether the player stands up to those challenges will be interesting to watch out for.

Daniel Chima Chukwu (Jamshedpur FC)

Daniel Chima Chukwu answered the call by Cooper in the previous game, but he needs to record such performances many times over to take Jamshedpur FC to where they want to be in the standings. The Nigerian is a robust presence inside the penalty box. He is always a threat in the air, and has an eye for a goal that other players around him could look to make the most of. He has scored five times in 10 appearances this season, and also has created 12 goal-scoring opportunities in total. He plays a fine hand in the build-up, averaging 14 passes per match and has hit over 50% of his shots on target in this campaign.

Daniel is perhaps the typical and only out-and-out No. 9 striker that Cooper has in this roster. Fitness permitted, the team should ideally be built around maximising his strengths, given that he opens up a window of opportunities for Jamshedpur FC to find the back of the net. He brings the fullbacks and wingers into play by getting into goal-scoring positions for their crosses, and also has a burst of pace that can get to the end of and strike in through balls. All in all, the 32-year-old has an important game coming up where he should look to back the performance that he delivered in the previous encounter. 

Head-to-Head

Played – 13

Odisha FC – 3

Jamshedpur FC – 8

Draws – 2

Trivia: Ahmed Jahouh has made the most successful passes (674) in the ISL 2023-24 so far.

Team Talk

“They’re a team that has improved in the last few games. They’ve played very well. I told when we played against them earlier that they deserved more points that they had. It’ll be a tough game because they’re improving everyday, and they have balance both defensively and offensively,” Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera remarked.

“During the game we played in Jamshedpur against them (Odisha FC), it was a game where two teams played the ball along the ground. I like the way Odisha FC plays,” Jamshedpur FC head coach Scott Cooper mentioned, saying that the match will be a treat for fans who really like football.

ISL Fantasy

Amey Ranawade (4.5cr)

One goal and two assists this season

Amrinder Singh (4.2cr)

Most clean sheets in ISL history

Daniel Chima Chukwu (5.7cr)

Hat-trick in the last match

If not registered already, fans can participate in the overall league or club-based leagues based on their preferences. Create private leagues, inviting friends and fellow football aficionados to compete. Prizes include a Sony PlayStation ®️ ️5 gaming console, EA Sports FC 24, signed club merchandise, and a Gift Card worth INR 20,000, which will be awarded to 100 winners at the end of the season. Sign up at: https://fantasy.indiansuperleague.com/

Where to Watch

Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 SD & HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam) & DD Bangla (Bengali). In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

Points Table

Kolkata, 27 December 2023: Kerala Blasters FC beat the Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) for the first time ever in the Indian Super League (ISL) as a 1-0 victory courtesy of a ninth minute strike by Dimitrios Diamantakos at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata took his team to the top of the league table on Wednesday. Ivan Vukomanovic finally managed to get one over his counterpart Juan Ferrando, whose team succumbed to a third straight loss with this result.

The scoreline might not suggest the upper hand that Kerala Blasters FC held in the proceedings, with their dynamic duo of Diamantakos and Kwame Peprah causing constant troubles to the Mariners’ backline. From going direct through long balls to the two forwards interlinking and finding ways around the home team’s defence, they left no stone unturned in chasing this victory.

Diamantakos missed hitting the target by mere inches when he brought down a cross by Pritam Kotal and shot it slightly above Vishal Kaith in the fourth minute. However, it was a sign of things to come, with the Greek forward producing one of the finest individual efforts of the season to bag the winner in this game. Peprah’s long-range shot rebounded but Diamantakos was quick to collect that, before cutting into the box and making his way past Asish Rai and Hector Yuste before hammering the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle with his left foot.

The goal got the visitors on their feet as Diamantakos edged past Jorge Pereyra Diaz to become the leading goal-scorer in the league with seven strikes to his name. Peprah seamlessly drifted across the Mariners’ backline, and he pulled off a shot pretty similar to the one by Diamantakos, from the same angle, a little later but to no avail. Their domestic counterpart Rahul KP was not going to be left behind either. Mohammed Azhar distributed the ball to Rahul at the right side of the box and the striker drilled it off target in an effort that he arguably should have converted with ease.

It reiterated the total control that the visitors maintained throughout the game. MBSG, despite the gifted frontline at their disposal, was not able to create many chances. Hugo Boumous showed some quick feet to get past Danish Farooq and curl in a cross for Armando Sadiku a little after the hour mark. However, the Albanian could not put enough power behind the shot to bag the equaliser. Vishal Kaith kept his calm to keep the scores level even in the added time of the second half, as the Mariners relied on Dimitrios Petratos to do the unthinkable again with the set-piece. However, in the kind of game that it was for the home team, the striker couldn’t shoot the ball beyond the Kerala Blasters FC defensive wall.

Key Performer of the Match

Dimitrios Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC)

Diamantakos has stood up to the challenge of Adrian Luna’s absence superbly well. Tonight, he scored once, created a couple of goal-scoring opportunities, in addition to making a tackle, interception, and clearance each. He helped the visitors set the tone for the match right from kick off, and his team reaped the rewards of the same.

What’s next for both teams?

The first half of the season has come to an end for both teams with this match.

Brief Scores

Mohun Bagan Super Giant 0 – 1 Kerala Blasters FC (Dimitrios Diamantakos 9’)

Stat Pack:

Mumbai, 27^th December, 2023: Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC will take on each other at the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) to round off their runs in the first half of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 campaign on December 28, Thursday. Both these teams come into this match on the back of defeats in their respective previous encounters. The Islanders were dealt with a disappointing 2-0 loss by the Kerala Blasters FC in Kochi, whereas the Marina Machans went down to Punjab FC by 1-0 in New Delhi last week.

For Mumbai City FC, the result down south was their first defeat in the ISL this season. Two goalless draws and a loss to Kerala Blasters FC in their previous four encounters, suggest that there’s ample room for improvement. Head Coach Kratky will be keen to sign off 2023 on a high, but that would mean overcoming a Chennaiyin FC unit that can be really dangerous on their day.

Owen Coyle has had a mixed bag of results with the club so far. Coyle has said repeatedly that they are looking at a long-term perspective at the moment. Their collective aim in this campaign appears to be to finish in the top-six and then bank on Coyle and his excellent game-management skills to go as deep into the competition as possible. Nothing could be a bigger boost to those ambitions than potentially defeating the Mumbai City FC in their own backyard.

What’s at stake?

Mumbai City FC

There is a lot of thinking that Kratky must have resorted to after the game in Kochi. Mumbai City FC was arguably swept aside from the game by the Kerala Blasters FC, and that perhaps signalled that the difference in quality amongst the higher ranked teams in the ISL is gradually bridging. Post some prominent departures aside from last season, they did solidify their squad in the summer and must be demanding more from themselves.

Chennaiyin FC is ideally the best opposition for them to get things back on track, as the Islanders have been unbeaten in their last six matches against the Marina Machans. However, the visitors pack a punch whenever they are in the City of Dreams; having beaten the Islanders thrice away from home in the ISL over the past 9 editions. The Marina Machans have conceded the joint-most goals in the ISL this season (19), along with Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC. The Islanders will be eyeing exploiting that, even as an opportunity to regain some of their goal-scoring rhythm that has faded away slightly since their clash against Bengaluru FC.

Chennnaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC is a team that likes to play on the frontfoot, but they need to be smarter with their defensive arrangement in this encounter. Mumbai City FC forwards operate at their best when they spot vacant spaces across the opposition’s backline. Coyle should ensure that his side does not shed their natural instincts but also be simultaneously wary of the threats that the Islanders can pose in certain phases of the game.

Coyle has a win percentage of 60% against Mumbai City FC in the ISL (P5 W3 D1 L1), which is his joint highest against any team (also Mohun Bagan Super Giant – P5 W3 L2). The tactician has in fact averaged two points per game against the Islanders in the competition, again the joint most alongside Hyderabad FC (P6 W3 D3). That coupled with Chennaiyin FC’s impressive record at the MFA should bring in confidence within the side to deliver an encouraging performance in the coming match.

Chennaiyin FC have to strike the perfect balance between their offensive endeavours and defensive duties in this fixture. They cannot forgo the opportunity of securing a point in search of a victory, and this is where Coyle’s game awareness will come into play. Their approach right from the offset of this match will be one to keep close tabs on.

Key Players

Lallianzuala Chhangte (Mumbai City FC)

Lallianzuala Chhangte’s outputs have taken a visible hit in the first-half of this campaign, having netted once and assisted twice in 10 matches thus far. Last season, Chhangte had scored 10 goals and secured six assists in 22 appearances, thus being crowned with the Golden Ball award. The number of minutes that he has been allowed on the field has dipped too. In 2022-23, Chhangte was averaging 84.31 minutes per game, whereas it has dropped to 59.6 minutes in this ISL season until now.

He returning to his optimal form will be essential for Mumbai City FC to fire from all cylinders. There is a small record that he must be hoping to claim as well, with Chhangte being one away from registering his 50th win in the ISL, and in doing so he will become the 19th Indian player to achieve the feat in competition history. He will be keen to make a mark against his former club, with whom he had finished runners-up in the 2019-20 campaign. That was perhaps the breakout year for Chhangte, netting seven times in 21 appearances, and he will be targeting an impactful outing against the Marina Machans on Tuesday.

Rafael Crivellaro (Chennaiyin FC)

The Brazilian attacking midfielder is the fulcrum around which the Chennaiyin FC attacking moves revolve. He connects their midfield to the frontline, demonstrating sublime skillsets inside the box to control the ball, playing precise passes to fellow forwards in key positions, slowing the game down and taking his time to make the right decisions at important junctures. Crivellaro has scored thrice and made five assists so far this season, recording a goal contribution every 112.65 minutes. He will be instrumental in helping the visitors unlock the Mumbai City FC defence, which has conceded only nine times in the league this season. Whether Chennaiyin FC sees adequate time on the ball and puts pressure back on the home team remains to be seen though.

Head-to-Head

Played – 18

Mumbai City FC – 9

Chennaiyin FC – 6

Draws – 3

Trivia: 67% of Chennaiyin FC’s goals (10 out of 15) in the current ISL season have come in the first half of the games.

Team Talk

“We reflected and reviewed (the last game). There were a lot of positive things but also things that we need to improve on. We addressed that, worked on that. We stick to our processes. It’s a good experience for the group to understand that we can be defeated as well. But, we need to keep moving forward,” Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Kratky said in the pre-match press conference.

“Anytime you play any opponent, you mention about players missing for Mumbai, nobody has more players missing than Chennaiyin FC, with the injuries we have. It happens in football. The ones who are available, we have to do the best with them,” Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle remarked.

ISL Fantasy

Rafael Crivellaro (7.7cr)

Eight goal contributions in ISL 2023-24

Jorge Pereyra Diaz (8.7cr)

Six goals this season so far

Bipin Singh (7.4cr)

Scored and grabbed an assist in Mumbai City FC’s last win at home

If not registered already, fans can participate in the overall league or club-based leagues based on their preferences. Create private leagues, inviting friends and fellow football aficionados to compete. Prizes include a Sony PlayStation ®️ ️5 gaming console, EA Sports FC 24, signed club merchandise, and a Gift Card worth INR 20,000, which will be awarded to 100 winners at the end of the season. Sign up at: https://fantasy.indiansuperleague.com/

Where to Watch

Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 SD & HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam) & DD Bangla (Bengali). In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

Points Table

New Delhi, 26 December 2023: Odisha FC kept their third consecutive clean sheet and extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 10 games to secure a 1-0 victory over Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 Tonight.

The Juggernauts rode on an early opener by Fijian forward Roy Krishna to take three points from this clash as the home side fell short of building upon their maiden victory in the competition that they notched last week against Chennaiyin FC.

True to head coach Sergio Lobera’s philosophy, the visitors held the major chunk of the possession (64.7%) as they outclassed the opponents at the centre of the park to maintain their assertiveness in the flow of play across both halves.

Odisha FC were unfortunately unable to break the deadlock in their goalless draw away from home against East Bengal FC. Lobera addressed that by unleashing his striker duo of Krishna and Diego Mauricio, helping the Juggernauts pile constant pressure on the ISL debutants.

Ahmed Jahouh delivered a precise corner from a set-piece in the 18th minute that Krishna hammered just off target on the right side of the net. However, the fact that the incumbent Super Cup winners had put Punjab FC on the back foot helped them convert one of these opportunities, which was brought about by promising young winger Isak Vanlalruatfela three minutes later.

Isak has improved significantly under Lobera’s tutelage. He set up the winner for Krishna from very close range and the former Bengaluru FC star didn’t blink twice before depositing the ball into the back of the net. That was followed by Mauricio hitting on target, as he scrapped through a tight situation to shoot from a difficult angle in the 27th minute, but the home side kept that effort at bay.

Punjab FC too had their chances, with Samuel Kynshi and Madih Talal joining hands to take shots at the Odisha FC defence. However, a strong backline guarded by a seasoned goalkeeper in Amrinder Singh, who now has 44 clean sheets in his ISL career, ensured that the home team caused little damage to their winning prospects.

Key Performer of the Match

Roy Krishna (Odisha FC)

Krishna played 38 passes, made three tackles and crosses each, in addition to netting the winner for Odisha FC. Whilst the strike in itself was very important, but his overall contributions in the build-up cannot be understated either.

What’s next for both teams?

Odisha FC will now host Jamshedpur FC on December 29, whereas the first-half of the ISL season for Punjab FC has come to an end with this match.

Brief Scores

Punjab FC 0 – 1 Odisha FC (Roy Krishna 21’)

Stat Pack:

Kolkata, 26 December, 2023: Mohun Bagan Super Giant will be gearing up for a crucial encounter at home as take on arch rivals and in-form Kerala Blasters FC at the Salt Lake Stadium in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on December 27, Wednesday. The Mariners find themselves in a precarious position after nine games, having suffered consecutive defeats against their nearest competitors in the last couple of matches.

The streak began with a gruelling 2-1 defeat at the home of Mumbai City FC, before FC Goa had a strong outing against them, wrapping up a 4-1 victory in their own backyard. Juan Ferrando will need to go back to the drawing board to do a lot of searching as a spate of injuries and absence of key players give him a truncated squad to work with.

The club made a remarkable investment to strengthen the squad with the acquisition of multiple top-tier international and domestic players to further their ambitions at both the country as well as the continental level. The latter came crashing down with their group-stage exit from the AFC Cup, but Ferrando has to salvage pride by competing for the topmost honours in all competitions at home. On the other hand is a Kerala Blasters FC unit that seems eager to bring an end to their wait for the silverware this season.

The Ivan Vukomanovic-coached side has brushed aside concerns over the injury of skipper Adrian Luna with other senior and also inexperienced stars assuming responsibility and delivering the goods consistently against other teams. They swept aside Mumbai City FC by a 2-0 margin in the previous match, but can they replicate those heroics on the road too?

What’s at stake?

Mohun Bagan Super Giant

At stake for the Mariners is the chance to break this unwanted losing streak and get on top of the team that is placed just a place above them in the points table at the moment. They could not have come up against a better opposition to do so though, as their unbeaten record against Kerala Blasters FC is something that Ferrando would want to hold dear to after this game. Kerala Blasters FC have lost five times and drawn once in their six matches against the Mariners in the ISL. In fact, the Kochi-based club are amongst the three teams including Odisha FC and East Bengal FC that are yet to defeat the Mariners in the ISL.

The quality in the MBSG squad is such that they manage to come out triumphant more often than not. Despite the spate of injuries in this campaign, they have scored 19 goals from an expected goals (xG) tally of 12.56 this season, with the Mariners’ xG differential of +6.44 being the highest of all teams in the competition. Ferrando will want for all that to come to the fore in this game.

Kerala Blasters FC

Kerala Blasters FC are on a roll after their clinical 2-0 win against Mumbai City FC even with the absence of captain Adrian Luna. They showed no signs of rustiness as the forwards stepped up and unleashed their impeccable potential with Dimitrios Diamantakos and Kwame Peprah scoring and setting a goal each, in addition to a brilliant defensive performance. The clean sheets would come as a relief for Vukomanovic, as the team has not conceded a goal in their previous two matches and the last time they went on a longer stretch was of three games in December 2014.

The Mariners aren’t the ideal opposition to seal that feat though, as the home team has scored a goal in each of their last 10 matches in the top-tier. In fact, the depth of Ferrando’s squad allows him to introduce quality substitutes and that has resulted in them scoring 10 goals in the second-half of matches this season.

Key Players

Hector Yuste (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

The Spanish midfielder has been a valuable resource at the centre of the park for the Mohun Bagan Super Giant. He has recorded nearly one interception, 1.3 tackles, and 3.5 clearances per game, whilst playing an average of 47 passes per game at an accuracy of 87%. Yuste has also notched an assist and will don a crucial role in helping the Mariners win the faceoff in the midfield against the Kerala Blasters FC. Not only will he be tasked with breaking the waves of attacks from the opposition, Yuste will also have to constantly keep playing forward passes to set the tempo of the proceedings. He can chip into the box during set-pieces as well, and is an all-round package whose potential has not been optimally unleashed in the ISL thus far. Ferrando will be banking on him to have a cracker of a second-half of the season to help the team realise their ambitions in the ISL.

Prabir Das (Kerala Blasters FC)

Prabir Das is someone who has played every season of the ISL so far and that experience reflects in the solid addition that he has become to the Kerala Blasters FC defensive unit this year. In six appearances, he has made five tackles, 10 interceptions, and 14 clearances, in addition to making a couple of goal-scoring chances to round off a formidable run for the outfit in this campaign. His pairing with Pritam Kotal brings in a sense of assurance to the backline that helps the midfielders explore opportunities upfront without being overly concerned about leaving the defence exposed. Das can fill in various roles at the back, and his versatility coupled with efficiency in carrying out the required tasks make him a valuable asset to any team.

Head-to-Head

Played – 6

Mohun Bagan Super Giant – 5

Kerala Blasters FC – 0

Draws – 1

Trivia: Pritam Kotal has made 23 interceptions in the current ISL season, the highest for any player in the competition.

Team Talk

“We continue with the same situation. Ashish and Yuste can play now. Team is the most important thing for me. We are ready for the next match. We are thinking of the best line-up, who’s fit, and about getting the three points,” Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Juan Ferrando said.

“We have a great group of players, great characters, we have stuck together with team spirit and by fighting for each other. It’s nice to be at the top though we have played more games than FC Goa, who are more consistent with victories and their defensive work I’d say,” Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic said in the pre-match press conference.

ISL Fantasy

Hector Yuste (3.6cr)

One assist so far in ISL 2023-24

Asish Rai (4.6cr)

Consistent performer at the back for the Mariners

Dimitrios Diamatankos (8.4cr)

Six goals so far in this season

If not registered already, fans can participate in the overall league or club-based leagues based on their preferences. Create private leagues, inviting friends and fellow football aficionados to compete. Prizes include a Sony PlayStation ®️ ️5 gaming console, EA Sports FC 24, signed club merchandise, and a Gift Card worth INR 20,000, which will be awarded to 100 winners at the end of the season. Sign up at: https://fantasy.indiansuperleague.com/

Where to Watch

Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 SD & HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam) & DD Bangla (Bengali). In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

Points Table

Subhasish Bose, the prominent Indian footballer with an impressive career spanning multiple ISL clubs and the national team, shares insights into his journey and the impact of football in India. In an interaction with the league, Bose highlights the transformative role of the Indian Super League (ISL) in shaping the dreams of the current generation.

As a player with 34 caps for the Indian national team and stints with distinguished ISL clubs such as Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Bose has witnessed success and personal growth. Winning the ISL final and the Durand Cup with his club, as well as being part of the national team’s triumphs in the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Championship, mark significant achievements in his career.

However, the 28-year-old, a staunch Mohun Bagan supporter since his younger days, still recollects the time when he had divorced the idea of building a career out of football.

“There is a lot of opportunity and the ISL has helped spread the message amongst the masses that football can be taken up as a profession in India. When we started off, it was pure passion at play. I wasn’t sure whether I could sustain my family by merely playing the game. However, the ISL has helped bring in greater exposure and the league is helping the current generation dream big, become professional footballers, and represent their favourite clubs and most importantly, the country,” Bose says in an interaction with the league.

“I feel very passionate about playing for the Mariners, because I believe they are the best fans in the country,” he says.

Hailing from Kolkata, Bose has been in love with the game and his club for as long as he can remember. He is someone who thrives under pressure, and rides on the emotions that fans create inside the stadium. Admittedly, the versatile defender is encouraged to regain his spirits and give the game his all in the dying minutes of a match solely because of the support that is showered on him by the Mariners’ fan base. “I feel very passionate about playing for the Mariners, because I believe they are the best fans in the country,” he says.

“Winning the ISL trophy with the Mohun Bagan Super Giant last season has been the highlight of my career in this league so far. We had been trying for that for many years and to achieve it finally was a great moment. Secondly, scoring against India’s best goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu during our matches against Bengaluru FC is a very memorable moment! Every game that I play in front of the Mohun Bagan crowd is something to cherish. Even when I am tired at around the 70-80 minute mark, they cheer us up and it energises me even more, encouraging me to perform even better,” Bose adds.

Any conversation about Kolkata football is incomplete without mentioning the century-old rivalry between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC. Subhasish Bose humorously recalls avoiding discussions with friends from the Red & Gold Brigade during derby days. Simultaneously, he cautions that the rivalry should be restricted only on the field and bad blood should not spill beyond the duration of the game.

“The fan base for Indian football has grown a lot.”

“Ever since childhood, as a Bengali boy, I didn’t talk to my friends who are East Bengal FC fans during the derby day. As a professional player, I believe that these things help grow Indian football. However, I would always insist for the rivalry to exist only for the 90 minutes that the game takes place. Now, I have a lot of friends who are East Bengal FC fans, but the rivalry between us remains only for the time of the game. After that, we go out, have dinner, have fun, etc,” Bose says.

“The fan base for Indian football has grown a lot. People used to consume only European football, mainly the English Premier League (EPL) earlier. But, that interest is getting converted into our sport now. Kolkata is known as the mecca of football in India because of the rivalry between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC,” he adds.

“Indian Super League (ISL) has helped Indian football and its players grow tremendously in the last decade”

Indian football has seen Bose evolve from a talented youngster to a dependable defender who takes up responsibilities during important moments for both his club and the country. Bose credits the ISL for helping him get acquainted with international expertise, in the form of coaches and players who have enabled him to discover a newer side of his playing style. “The Indian Super League (ISL) has helped Indian football and its players grow tremendously in the last decade. Playing under foreign coaches and Spanish, French, and other teammates, who have played for their national team, have enabled us to improve our individual qualities too. It has encouraged us to play more fearlessly for the national team,” Bose signs off.