Matchweek six of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season witnessed entertaining and exciting results, resulting in quite some changes in the standings. All five matches ended in victories, with three ISL sides securing a win away from home.
Hyderabad FC continued their unbeaten start to the season with a gritty win against Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. The defending Hero ISL champions are now four points clear at the top.
Meanwhile, heavyweights ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC also closed the gap on the table toppers with another win over NorthEast United FC and Chennaiyin FC respectively.
Down south, East Bengal FC inflicted a third straight defeat on Bengaluru FC while Kerala Blasters FC recorded a clinical win against FC Goa, ending up on the winning side after a 10-game winless streak against the Gaurs.
With yet another matchweek coming to a close, here are the key takeaways from Matchweek 6;
Another 1-0 win, and another clean sheet for unbeatable Hyderabad FC
Hyderabad FC registered a fourth consecutive 1-0 victory this season as they edged past Jamshedpur FC in the ISL at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. Mohammad Yasir scored again for the defending champions in the second half to end their winless streak against the Red Miners.
Despite being goalless, the first half was a decent one for Jamshedpur. The game’s complexion changed early in the second half as Hyderabad FC drew first blood. Halicharan Narzary’s low cross aimed at Ogbeche was intercepted by Peter Hartley. However, the ball eventually landed in front of an unmarked Yasir, who squeezed the ball in at the near post in the 48th minute.
With a fifth straight clean sheet in just six games, HFC have now equalised FC Goa’s (2018-19) and Mumbai City FC’s (2014) record of five clean sheets in a row, which is the best-ever tally in a single Hero ISL season. Across six games, Manuel Marquez’s men have just conceded three goals, the least by any side. All three of their goals came in their opening game against Mumbai City FC as they secured a draw.
Another win for Hyderabad FC takes them seven points clear at the top with 13 points. Their next challenge will come at home on November 19, Saturday, when they host Kerala Blasters. Jamshedpur FC remain in ninth place after their third loss of the season. They play Chennaiyin FC at the Marina Arena on November 19, Saturday.
The Mariners scored a late winner against the Highlanders who fell short
ATK Mohun Bagan secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over NorthEast United and moved up into second place in the ISL at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, in Kolkata, on Thursday. Liston Colaco broke the deadlock in the 35th minute before Aaron Evans equalised in the 81st minute. Subhasish Bose, on his 99th Hero ISL appearance, scored the winner to give the Mariners a win in their 50th Hero ISL game.
Five minutes past the half-hour mark, ATKMB breached the NorthEast United FC defence. Hugo Boumous pounced on Parthib’s misplaced pass in midfield and advanced towards goal before finding Colaco with a perfectly weighted through ball. The winger aimed for the far post and finished it with confidence to get his first goal in the league this season.
Drama ensued in the final ten minutes of the game. Jon Gaztanaga’s glancing header allowed Aaron Evans to score the equaliser with a diving header in the 81st minute. The Highlanders had their hearts broken in the 89th minute when Petratos’ cross was met by Subhasish Bose’s accurate diving header that put the Mariners back in front and eventually handed them all three points.
The win took ATK Mohun Bagan up into second place with 10 points. They will visit Goa next to face the Gaurs on November 20, Sunday. The Highlanders came very close to scoring their first point of the season but will remain rooted to the bottom of the table. They will get a break during the next Matchweek before hosting Mumbai City FC on November 25, Friday.
East Bengal register their second win in Bengaluru FC’s third straight defeat
Cleiton Silva left his former fanbase in silence, scoring the only goal of the game as East Bengal FC handed Bengaluru FC their third straight 0-1 defeat of the season in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Friday. The Blues failed to score in their third consecutive game as the Torch Bearers secured their first clean sheet of the season.
No goals were scored in the opening 45 as the hosts finished the half without a single shot on target. In the 69th minute of the game, the deadlock was finally broken. Running towards his own goal on the left as the last man, midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam came under pressure from Naorem Mahesh Singh and miskicked his backpass towards goalkeeper Gurpreet. Mahesh pounded on the loose ball and was one-on-one with the keeper when he squared it for Cleiton Silva, who calmly tapped the ball in against his former club.
The season’s second win for East Bengal FC saw them leapfrog Bengaluru FC in the Hero ISL table and move into eighth place. The Blues are now ninth in the table, level on four points with Jamshedpur FC. For their next game, the Torch Bearers will return to the Salt Lake Stadium to face Odisha FC on November 18, Friday. The Blues will travel to the west coast to face Mumbai City FC next on November 17, Thursday.
Ruthless Mumbai City FC rout Chennaiyin FC at their home by a comeback win
It rained goals at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai as Mumbai City FC came from behind to beat Chennaiyin FC 6-2 in matchweek 6 of the ISL. Mumbai City FC found six different goalscorers, three of them coming off the bench, after falling 2-0 behind just past the half-an-hour mark.
The Marina Arena erupted in the 19th minute when Petar Sliskovic put the hosts in front. Sangwan’s delivery from the corner came off Rahul Bheke before reaching Rahim Ali. The striker lobbed the ball across the face of goal and Sliskovic headed it in from close range as the Islanders conceded the first goal of the match for the first time this season. In the 32nd minute, the Marina Machans doubled their lead. Sliskovic ran at Mehtab Singh before rolling it towards El Khayati. The Dutchman’s first shot was blocked by Mehtab, but the rebound was slotted in perfectly at the near post.
In the next minute Mumbai’s deficit was down to one. The Islanders swarmed forward as Stewart whipped the ball in from the right flank. Diaz beat his marker and headed the ball past Debjit Majumder to make it 2-1. In first-half stoppage time, Lalengmawia Ralte beat Debjit to the ball and was taken out in the process. The referee pointed to the spot and booked the keeper. Stewart stepped up to take it and sent Debjit the wrong way to reinstate parity in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
At half-time, Des Buckingham made two changes with Vinit Rai and Vignesh Dakshinamurthy coming on for Ralte and Dessai. The game turned on its head four minutes into the second half. Bipin pulled the ball back towards the edge of the box and Rai smashed it in with his first attempt at goal. The visitors struck again at the hour-mark and established a two-goal cushion. Ahmed Jahouh’s corner was cleared only as far as Dakshinamurthy at the edge of the box. The defender put his boot through it and found the back of the net.
The Islanders’ third substitution of the evening, Alberto Noguera, also got on the scoresheet in the 65th minute. The Spaniard received the ball from Bipin and a powerful shot picked up a deflection off Diagne to sneak in at the far post. Bipin was in the action again at the very end, skipping past the defence and tucked the ball into the net to become Mumbai City FC’s leading goalscorer with 16 goals.
The win lifts Mumbai City FC up into second place in the league, four points behind leaders Hyderabad FC. The Islanders’ next challenge will be facing Bengaluru FC at home on November 17, Thursday. Chennaiyin FC stay sixth on the table, just a point ahead of Kerala Blasters. They will stay at the Marina Arena for their next game against Jamshedpur FC on November 19, Saturday.
Kerala Blasters FC end their 10-game winless streak against FC Goa
Kerala Blasters ended their 10-game winless streak that spanned 6 years, against FC Goa with an assertive 3-1 victory in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, their first since November 2016. Goals from Adrian Luna, Dimitrios Diamantakos and Ivan Kaliuzhnyi within the space of ten minutes secured all three points for the Blasters. Noah Sadaoui scored for the Gaurs.
Both sides’ defences were on top until the 42nd minute when Luna fired the hosts in front. Rahul KP’s cross from the right flank missed Luna’s diving header before it reached Samad. The winger’s off-balance shot rolled into the path of Luna who tapped it in from close range. Decibels went through the roof moments later as the Blasters were awarded a penalty at the stroke of half-time. Diamantakos was taken out by Anwar Ali after the Gaurs failed to clear their lines. The Greek striker stepped up to take it and sent Dheeraj Moirangthem the wrong way from the spot.
In the 52nd minute, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi went top of the ISL goals chart this season with a long-range screamer. Diamantakos squared the ball into the path of Kaliuzhnyi. The Ukrainian was allowed space and time to pull the trigger with his left foot and Dheeraj had no chance of stopping the curling effort. But, the Gaurs did pulled one goal back in the 67th minute when Seriton Fernandes found an unmarked Sadaoui with a lofted cross into the box. The winger kept his header on target and pulled a goal back for his side, but the Gaurs couldn’t manufacture any substantial chances after that one. The solitary goal helped FC Goa’s goal difference enough to retain the fourth spot.
The three points lifted Kerala Blasters up into fifth place, level on points with FC Goa. The Blasters will look to capitalise on this momentum when they visit Hyderabad FC on November 19, Saturday for their next game. The Gaurs will return to Fatorda for their next game against ATK Mohun Bagan on November 20, Sunday.
Follow our website for all the latest updates on Indian Football.
