After a week that had as many as 20 goals scored across five games, a relatively low-scoring matchday 16 of the Indian Super League took the centre-stage, which hardly had any impact on the top half of the table.
Mumbai City FC, who sit fourth on the table, needed injury-time drama to beat Jamshedpur FC 2-1 to strengthen their grip to reach the playoffs. Table-toppers FC Goa and ATK both registered easy victories over Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC respectively, while Chennaiyin FC dropped points for the first time in five games, as defending champions Bengaluru FC held them to a 0-0 draw.
A mere 12 goals were scored during the recent match week, and here are the best bits from it:
Hugo Boumous
For: FC Goa
Against: Hyderabad FC
Hugo Boumous has been an absolute revelation for FC Goa of late, scoring four goals in his last three outings; two of which came in his side’s recent 4-1 victory over Hyderabad at home. After breaking the deadlock as early as the 19th minute, the 24-year-old midfielder scored a stunning solo goal in the 50th to give his side a two-goal cushion.
Picking up the ball on the left-wing, Boumous beat not one or two, but five Hyderabad players to slot home a neat finish, and his celebration duly matched his breathtaking effort.
Marcelinho
For: Hyderabad FC
Against: FC Goa
Marcelinho has been Hyderabad’s only shining light this season, and although he has five goals and an assist so far, the best from the lot came against Goa last Wednesday. As Hyderabad won a free-kick some 25-30 yards out, the 32-year-old Brazilian fired a vicious left-footed drive which rattled the inside of the top bar and found its way into the net.
Bidyananda Singh
For: Mumbai City FC
Against: Jamshedpur FC
91 minutes into the game and the scoreline was stuck at 1-1. With the battle for the final playoff spot heating up, Mumbai City FC needed a moment of brilliance and a certain Bidyananda Singh delivered what was promised. As Jamshedpur defenders failed to clear the danger, the 22-year-old struck a first-time volley from the edge of the area and although the connection wasn’t the greatest, the ball found its way into the goal.
Roy Krishna
For: ATK
Against: Odisha FC
A hat-trick against Odisha FC on Saturday has taken ATK’s Roy Krishna to the top of the goal-scoring charts. He scored his first in emphatic fashion; a potent, typical striker’s finish. The 32-year-old, during a corner, skipped his marker from the far post and attempted a neat volley to send the home supporters into a frenzy.
His second, on the other hand, was equally breathtaking, this time a stunning sprinting effort from the halfway line. Skidding past Carlos Delgado from the left, the Fijian made a neat cut into the area and pulled off a near-perfect chip to make it two for his team.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / IndSuperLeague
