The year is coming to an end and so do the first half of the ISL 2022-23 season. There has been a lot going on in the league in recent days, which is also reflected in the standings. In a dramatic encounter yesterday, Kerala Blasters FC defeated Odisha FC 1-0 to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games. NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) defeated ATK Mohan Bagan 1-0 on Saturday to snap the 10-match losing streak. Continuing its winning streak, Mumbai City FC pulled off a brilliant came back to defeat Chennaiyin FC 2-1 at the Mumbai Football Arena to regain the top spot. Here is a quick recap of how the game went:
Kerala Blasters FC continues their winning streak
In the third minute, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi’s headed clearing from inside the box went straight to Odisha’s Raynier Fernandes on the outside of the box, putting KBFC at risk of conceding. As a result of good defense on both ends, Raynier Fernandes’s hit struck the crossbar. The game went really close and didn’t really pick up until about the 75th minute. There weren’t many clear-cut opportunities, but as the game went on, OFC began to make a few errors at the back. Marko Leskovic missed what was arguably the game’s best opportunity to score.
However, KBFC was able to score minutes later thanks to another error from Amrinder Singh, They appeared to be slightly surprised when Bryce Miranda, a substitute, sent a magnificent, long cross from the left in the 86th minute. The Odisha goalkeeper Amrinder Singh Amrinder jumped but Kerala’s defender Soraisham Sandeep Singh headed it inside the net without any error to give the Blasters a 1-0 victory. With 22 points from 11 games, the Blasters finished the year well, moving up from fifth to third in the Indian Super League standings. Additionally, it was their sixth victory in their previous seven games. With 19 points, Odisha remained in sixth place.
NorthEast United FC ended the 10-match losing streak
ATK Mohun Bagan started off strong and maintained composure throughout the first half. At practically every stage of the game, Mohun Bagan had a lot of shots on target, but a well-organized NorthEast United FC defense made sure that none of these shots get converted into goals. NorthEast’s Wilmar Jordan landed a flawless header on Emil Benny’s pass from the right flank to score the game- winning goal in the 69th minute. Following the goal, NEUFC displayed solid defense right up to the very end to terminate ATK Mohun Bagan’s winning streak.
NorthEast United FC’s win doesn’t affect their position on the table and they remain in the bottom spot, but they’ll end the year with their first-ever win this season. ATKMB’s chances of making the playoffs were hindered by the defeat; they are still in the fourth position but risk falling outside the top four. ATK Mohun Bagan, who suffered its first loss in the previous five games will play their one game remaining this half against FC Goa.
Mumbai finish off the year unbeaten
Mumbai City FC beat Chennaiyin FC 2-1 in an Indian Super League 2022-23 match at the Mumbai Football Arena on Saturday to top the ISL standings with eight wins in eleven games. Chennaiyin got the game going well and had the proper shape and balance to control the opening minutes. Petar Sliskovic, a standout forward for Chennaiyin, brilliantly picked up a ball from Julius Duker to score a stunning goal, his first non-headed goal of the season and sixth overall.
In the 38th minute, Mumbai City made a brilliant comeback as Lallianzuala Chhangte struck the opening goal for his team to equalize the game 1-1. Greg Stewart was well-contested in the first half, but he managed to slip past Chennaiyin’s defense after the break. He scored the second goal for Mumbai in the 57th minute to give his club a 2-1 lead. Anirudh Thapa, Chennaiyin’s replacement for Sourav Das, came extremely close to equalizing, but his shot narrowly missed the goal.