Chennai take on resurgent Blasters in a crucial tie

Kochi:Kerala Blasters will welcome their Southern rivals Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi and the home side will look to extend their unbeaten run to five matches, with one eye on the remote possibility of making the Hero Indian Super League playoffs. 

Chennaiyin are not yet assured of qualification for the semifinals but even a loss will keep them among the top four. However, both teams have only two matches left. The previous match between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw after goals in the 89th and 90th minutes from Rene Mihelic and CK Vineeth respectively. But tomorrow, neither would be happy except a win and full points from this encounter.

"It was a tough schedule for us to play games and then recover for a day before jumping onto the plane again. We're delighted with the amount of points we've got from these last four matches. I didn't change the team that much so it has been a huge workload for them and says everything about my squad. We're where we are because of our work ethic. Now we come into this game with an unusual four-five days of rest and we are in very good shape," Chennaiyin head coach John Gregory said -- almost as if sounding a warning shot for Kerala.

But this is hardly the same Kerala side that they faced early on.

"They were struggling when we played them last time, individually and as a team. But with the new coach (David James) coming in with a positive attitude and has totally transformed the team," he said. 

James himself sounded pretty confident, and said that there were initial question marks when he joined Kerala for the second time in his career.

"The experience I had as a head coach was also a matter of question but from day one it was always about how Kerala Blasters is about everyone involved with the club and not just the players and the head coach. So without wanting to make it sound too easy, it was still easy to instill confidence in everyone with a support staff like mine," he said.

On the upcoming game, a crucial one at that, James said that he expected an energetic match.

"We expect them to win the game and get over the line. For us, we have to win the game and aim for six points (out of two games)," he said, intending that both sides will certainly go on an all out attack. 

Mumbai leave it late to floor NorthEast in 5-goal thriller

Mumbai: Lucian Goian led from the front for Mumbai City FC as he scored a precious winner in stoppage time as the hosts won a five-goal thriller 3-2 against NorthEast United FC at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai.

On a night where Mumbai City had to win the match, the dramatic late winner helped the Islanders stay alive in the race for a place in the playoffs. Mumbai City have now moved to the sixth spot with 23 points from 16 matches. Should they win their remaining two matches against Delhi Dynamos and Chennaiyin FC, they can still make it to the top four.

NorthEast United have been left at the bottom of the pool with 11 points from 17 matches. 

For large spells, it looked like NorthEast would get at least a point from this game. They were down by an early goal from Achille Emana (15th minute) but Lucian Goian’s own goal brought them back in the 24th minute. Sambinha then gave NorthEast the lead in the 43rd minute, only for Everton Santos (54th minute) to draw level for Mumbai and Goian to strike at the very end in this dramatic tie. 

Needing a win to get their campaign back on track, Mumbai City started strongly and deservedly took the lead inside the first 15 minutes which they thoroughly dominated.

They took the lead through midfielder Achille Emana who carved out a goal from nothing. It was Everton Santos who had picked out his teammate on the top of the box and the burly Cameroonian, took a swift turn and then picked out the bottom right corner before a diving TP Rehenesh could get there.

Goalkeeper Rehenesh was otherwise alert for NorthEast United FC, keeping away a blazing shot from Santos early in the game and then tipping over a free-kick from Marcio Rozario.

NorthEast got the equaliser in the 24th minute. Maic Sema crossed the ball from the left for Gursimrat Singh, whose shot was travelling towards goal and Mumbai defender Lucian Goian, in an attempt to clear, steered it inside his own goal.

The visitors should have been ahead in the 41st minute but John Mosquera missed a sitter from a swift counter-attack. NorthEast, however, were not to be denied the lead two minutes later as an unmarked Sambinha came up with a low header from Lalrindika Ralte’s corner kick.

In the second session, Mumbai didn’t have to wait too long for the equaliser.

Everton Santos got the equaliser when he bundled home past two defenders from inside the box after it was headed into his path by Rafa Jorda. Mumbai then kept bombarding the goal in search of a precious winner which was eventually secured through an unlikely source.

It was the captain who redeemed himself for his earlier lapse that gave NorthEast the equaliser. Goian made a superb run to meet Raju Gaikwad’s cross and finished it with some class in the first minute of stoppage time.

Crucial tie for Goa to be back in top four

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC have almost sealed the spot in the playoffs with their last win over Chennaiyin FC but their opponents for Friday's Hero Indian Super League clash - FC Goa still have got all to do if they want to join the league leaders in the top four. 

Sergio Lobera's side are currently fifth in the league standings with 20 points, just three less than third-placed Chennaiyin FC. The Goan side, however, have a game in hand. A win tomorrow here at Sree Kanteerava Stadium could see FC Goa come back in the knock out contention strongly, but that is easier said than done when you are up against Bengaluru at home. 

Albert Roca's blues are sitting comfortably at the top of points table with a five-point lead over their nearest rivals FC Pune City. Bengaluru FC have won four consecutive games in the ISL. The home side have been in scintillating form since going down unceremoniously to Delhi Dynamos last month. 

Talking about tomorrow clash at the pre-match press conference, FC Goa's assistant coach Derrick Pereira emphasized that his team is focussed on the game at hand. "we would be focussing on the games that we have to play. We don't want to think ahead at this moment," he said.

Goa’s campaign has received set back with unfavourable results in last two outing, losing to Mumbai City and later a draw with NorthEast United. FC Goa has been troubled by their defence but Pereira believes that's is a part of how they play, "I think we play as a team and we follow a certain idea. We'll stick to that and won't change on those ideas."

FC Goa can take a heart ahead of the crucial game having defeated Bengaluru in a seven-goal thriller when the two teams squared off earlier in the season in Goa. And Bengaluru FC would want to set that record straight when they go out on the field. 

"In that game, we had our chances we didn't take them. But we knew we were playing against a really good team. Tomorrow we will be playing against a team which I think will be in the top four. They are a good team and they have good players," Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Roca said.

The Spanish tactician also hinted that he may rest some of his key players for the game given the tight schedule he has got. "We have also got an AFC game coming up. So we may make some changes." 

ATK hurt Kerala’s chances with 2-2 draw

Kolkata: Bulgarian football legend Dimitar Berbatov scored his first goal in the Hero Indian Super League for Kerala Blasters FC but it counted for little in the end as the visitors were held 2-2 by ATK at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on Thursday.

Kerala Blasters twice took the lead, first through Gudjon Baldvinsson (33 minutes) and then through Dimitar Berbatov (55 minutes) but goals from Ryan Taylor (38 minutes) and Tom Thorpe (75 minutes) helped cancel the leads.

The draw helped ATK arrest their four losses in a row and secured the first point for interim coach Ashley Westwood but doesn’t help their chances of qualification. ATK now have 13 points from 14 matches and have seen their chances of qualification go up in smoke.

Kerala Blasters will also be disappointed with the point. They have temporarily displaced FC Goa from the sixth spot with 21 points compared to FC Goa’s 20, but have played three extra matches.

The clash between last year’s finalists, now struggling in this edition of the Hero ISL, started tentatively and sprang to life only towards the later half of the first 45 minutes. Kerala Blasters were the first to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute as Baldvinsson found the mark.

A good cross in the danger zone from Prasanth saw Baldvinsson jump highest and head towards goal where it hit the shoulder of ATK defender Jordi Montel and sailed past the goalkeeper.

ATK needed five minutes to get on level scores as they capitalised on a defensive lapse. Milan Singh tried to play the ball forward but it was intercepted by Taylor. He then took his time and picked his spot as the ball deflected off Lalruatthara and sailed past Kerala goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury.

The teams were tied 1-1 at half time and Kerala once again took the lead when play resumed in the second session. It was former Manchester United forward Berbatov who gave them the lead with his first goal of the season. Jackichand Singh’s free-kick was flicked on by Nemanja Lakic-Pesic and fell to Berbatov on top of the box. The Bulgarian sharpshooter connected neatly and picked the bottom left corner of the goal for a classy finish.

It seemed like Berbatov’s goal would be enough for Kerala Blasters but ATK hit back with the equaliser in the 74th minute after going close on a couple of occasions.

Taylor's corner was first cleared by the Kerala defence but the ball traveled back to the flank where Taylor sent in another measured cross which Thorpe did well to connect from inside a crowded goalmouth.

In the end, ATK managed to hold on to that draw and won their first point in five matches, while Kerala were left to rue a final chance in the final minute when Thorpe cleared Baldvinsson’s attempt on the goalline.

Bengaluru look to turn the tables on Chennai

Chennai:It’s the showdown between two teams that have set the pace this season in the Hero Indian Super League. Even though both Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC are comfortably settled in the top two positions in the league standing, there still will be a lot to play for when they square off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday. 

Second placed Chennaiyin FC are currently four points behind table toppers Bengaluru FC but John Gregory's men have played one game less than their southern rivals. Chennayin had defeated Bengaluru 2-1 at their home and a win tomorrow will see the Chennai team cut the lead to just one point. But, it will not be easy. Bengaluru FC come into this game with three consecutive wins under their belt. And this time, Bengaluru will look to turn the tables on Chennai.

Mindful of the task at hand, Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory told reporters at the pre-match press conference that for him, the season actually starts now.

"For me, the season starts tomorrow. This is when you find how good you are. Everything has just been jostling for positions. It just like practice lap in Formula 1. We are second in the grid and the race actually starts tomorrow. We have five games in 17 days that will determine if we make it to the play-offs," he added.  

Talking about the team selection for tomorrow's big game, Gregory said, he has the complete squad to choose from but he'll make that decision only before the game.  "Everyone is fit and healthy for this crucial period. I'm fortunate to have a good medical staff that has taken good care of the players," he added.

Though Chennaiyin FC have the advantage of a 2-1 win over BFC in the last game, the Bengaluru head coach Albert Roca believes that their loss to Chennai in the previous encounter will have no effect on his players when they face Chennaiyin for the second time in the season.

"I don't think it will play on our mind. Losing to Chennaiyin FC wasn't disastrous. Obviously, we want to win all games. Tomorrow, we need to be brave and try and get all three points," he said at the pre-match press conference. 

Bengaluru FC have been enjoying a great debut season in the ISL. Roca’s men have adapted to the new league with ease and are looking like title contenders. The Spanish tactician, however, feels it's too early for such claims.

"It's not finished yet. First, we have to finish all our games, perhaps we can talk a little about it and even then we also have to go through playoffs. At the moment it's a pack of six teams looking to get into top four. So the first goal is to be in top four. If we take all three points tomorrow, we'll be close," he concluded.

Goa look to put their campaign back on track

Goa: Having lost a close match to Mumbai City FC in their last game, FC Goa will look to put their campaign back on track when they take on Avram Grant's NorthEast United FC in the Hero Indian Super League clash at Fatorda Stadium on Sunday. A win tomorrow can see them go fourth on the points table.

Currently sixth in the league standings with 19 points from 11 games, Sergio Lobera's men have two games in hand over third-placed FC Pune City and have played three games less than fourth-placed Jamshedpur FC, both tied on 22 points.

"At this point in time, if they let me chose between 4th, 5th or 6th having played all the games or be in a position to have games in hand, I would prefer to have games in hand. That gives us an opportunity to climb up the table. I'm sure other coaches will prefer that too" Lobera said at the pre-match press conference.

Pointing out the difference in the number of games played by each team, he added, "At the moment there are teams who have played three games less, some two less so the points table doesn't truly reflect."

The former Barcelona youth coach also brushed aside talks of pressure on his side with others overtaking them on the points table since they last played.  "Pressure doesn't exist for us at this point in time, for us, there is only excitement. Excitement to improve on the difficult season last year," he said.

FC Goa have acquired the services of Moroccan 22-year-old midfielder Hugo Adnan Boumous. But the home side will be without midfielder Seriton Fernades, who was sent off in the last match. Talking about his team selection for tomorrow, Lobera said, "there will be changes in the team. But whatever the changes we make our style of play will remain the same."

No doubt, FC Goa are one of the favorites to seal a top-four place. But, they first need to get past NorthEast United. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, FC Goa lost 1-2 in Guwahati.

NorthEast United may have lost all hopes of making it to the playoffs. But, they would still want to finish the season on a high. Under Grant, North East has seen a drastic change in fortune. They have provided glimpses of what they can do but still haven't found any consistency. The visitors come into this game at the back of a 1-2 defeat to Bengaluru FC.

Vineeth’s last-gasp stunner gives Kerala full points

Pune: C K Vineeth scored a last-gasp winner that would be talked about long after this edition of the Hero Indian Super League draws to a close as Kerala Blasters got the better of FC Pune City 2-1 at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, Pune, on Friday.

Kerala Blasters head coach David James had said that his team would need to win every game left in the season to stand any chance of making the semifinals and they duly delivered, thanks to goals from Jackichand Singh and Vineeth.

While Jackichand’s goal had class written all over it in the 58th minute and gave Kerala the lead, it was Vineeth who grabbed the limelight with a goal in added time after Emiliano Alfaro had drawn level for the hosts in the 78th minute.

With the scores locked at 1-1, and the clock ticking down towards the final whistle, Courage Pekuson's long ball was chested down by Vineeth outside the box and hit on the swivel with immense power to beat Vishal Kaith - a stunning goal from a man who has been Kerala's saviour so many times.

After a barren first session, the second half turned out to be quite eventful which saw three goals and Pune’s Brazilian striker Marcelinho hitting the post twice. The Hero of the Match twice hit the post with venomous attempts and then drew a brilliant save from goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury. Kerala will argue that Marcelinho shouldn't have been on the pitch after a two-footed lunge on Prasanth went punished with only a yellow card. 

The man who got sent off, however, was Pune City coach Ranko Popovic for a confrontation with the fourth official.

For Kerala’s opening goal, Jackichand controlled a ball outside the area and unleashed a pile-driver from outside the area to beat Vishal Kaith's outstretched dive.

Emiliano Alfaro equalised in the 78th minute from the spot after the Uruguayan striker was through on goal and Kerala goalkeeper Subhasish came off his line to smother the ball. The attacker went down under the challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. 

Alfaro aimed for the bottom corner and made no mistake in scoring his seventh goal of the season. 

It seemed like the match would end in a draw until Vineeth came up with a blinder of a goal.

The loss keeps Pune (22 points from 13 matches) in the playoff spots but three points for Kerala Blasters mean they go into fifth position with 20 points from 14 matches. They have displaced FC Goa (19 points) from the fourth position but have played three additional matches.

Super Sub Jairu takes Jamshedpur to top four

Mumbai: Steve Coppell led Jamshedpur FC today consolidated their chances of qualifying for the Hero Indian Super League semi-finals as they shocked Mumbai City FC with a 2-1 win at Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai.

Jamshedpur were second best to Mumbai City for long spells, particularly in the second session. The visitors took the lead in the first half after Sanju Pradhan turned the ball into his own goal in the 37th minute. In the second session, Mumbai equalised through Everton Santos in the 79th minute. But just when it seemed like the match was heading for a draw, substitute Bikash Jairu scored with six minutes left to be played to hand Jamshedpur an important win.

Today’s victory propelled Jamshedpur to the top four for the first time in this season. The debutants now have 22 points from 14 matches and are placed fourth. However, this was Jamshedpur’s 14th match – the most by any team in the league so far.. With just four matches left to be played, not everything is in their own hands but the Steve Coppell boys will return home happy that they are still in the race. 

Mumbai City are placed sixth with 17 points from 13 matches.

Bikash Jairu was the man who made the victory possible with a late strike but the Hero of the night was Subrata Paul. The goalkeeper made several superlative saves and was responsible for keeping the visitors in the game. 

Jamshedpur started with positive intent but lacked the cutting edge infront of goal as the strikers misfired. They needed an own goal from Sanju Pradhan to surge ahead in the 37th minute. Farukh Choudhary danced his way through the middle and shot on goal. The ball lacked power and direction but to Jamshedpur’s luck, it ricocheted off defender Marcio Rozario's heel towards goal where Sanju desperately tried to clear but it was too late. 

In the second half, Mumbai City changed gears and constantly attacked. Everton Santos, Thiago Santos, Balwant Singh and even Sahil Tavora had chances to draw level. They tried as well but Subrata was unbeatable, effecting several saves. 

The goalkeeper, however, was found wanting in the 79th minute when a corner from Thiago at the near post saw Everton attack. Subrata was on hand to keep it away but his hesitant clearance hit Everton and sailed into the net. 

A draw would have been disastrous for both teams. Towards the closing stages of the match Bikash made his presence count. It was Andre Bikey who initiated the move from the right by finding Kervens Belfort all alone with the keeper but couldn’t get the better of Amrinder Singh. The rebound fell for Bikash and he made no mistake to hammer it home.

Mumbai, Jamshedpur lock horns with eye on play-offs

Mumbai: Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC lock horns in a crucial Hero Indian Super League battle for a “prize worth winning” at the Mumbai Football Arena, on Thursday. 

Jamshedpur and Mumbai City are placed fifth and sixth respectively on the points table and know that a win for either team will boost their chances of qualification and significantly reduce the chances of the other from moving ahead. It’s a straight battle for the semi-final slot and nobody wants to leave anything to chance.

“You saw how in Jamshedpur, we had a 2-2 result. Both teams wanted to win and the same will be true tomorrow. The prize is worth winning tomorrow and both sides will be very much trying to win,” said Jamshedpur FC coach Steve Coppell.

Jamshedpur are placed fifth with 19 points from 13 matches and can displace FC Goa from their fourth spot, even though the Goan club would have played two matches less. Coppell disagreed with suggestions that it’s a do or die clash but agreed that a win can work wonders.

“I don’t think so it’s a do-or-die match for either team. We have five games left. Can you lose the game and still be part of the playoff? Yes. But it will be more difficult. There is lots to play for. It’s not quite do-or-die but almost do-or-die,” said Coppell.

Mumbai City FC managed a fantastic 4-3 victory over FC Goa in an away game with a late winner from Balwant Singh. The victory threw them a lifeline and with 17 points from 12 matches, they are still in the running for a place among the top four.

“In these kind of games, every detail will make the difference. Jamshedpur is not a team which concedes too many goals. We have to be very much accurate to convert the chances that we have. Our defence has to be very alert. In the last games, they have changed their approach. This is one of the tough matches,” said Mumbai City coach Alexandre Guimaraes. 

Mumbai City lost their last two matches at home against Kerala Blasters (0-1) and Bengaluru FC (1-3). Guimaraes is aware of the shortcomings that led to their defeats and has now taken measures to overcome those problems. 

Mumbai City missed out on the services of their injured captain Lucian Goian and Brazilian midfielder Leo Costa in the earlier match. Guimaraes will be hoping he can count on their services, particularly in a game with so much at stake.

Teenager Deependra gives Kerala crucial win

Kochi: Kerala Blasters came back from behind to register a 2-1 win over Delhi Dynamos FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, on Saturday. The home side desperately needed the three points to keep their hopes for a top-four place alive in the Hero Indian Super League and are now placed fifth with 17 points.

Kalu Uche gave Miguel Angel Portugal's side the lead from the spot but Kerala Blasters found an unlikely hero in 19-year-old teenager, Deependra Singh Negi, who scored one and played a big part in his team’s second after the change of ends.

Delhi Dynamos started on the front foot and after testing Kerala Blasters goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury a couple of times early on, they deservedly took the lead in the 35th minute. 

Deependra Singh Negi

Prasanth Karuthadathkuni's clumsy push on Seityasen Singh in his own box gave the referee a good reason to point to the spot. Kalu Uche took the responsibility and calmly slotted the ball past Chowdhury.

Even after going a goal down, there was little reaction from the home side, and Delhi could have doubled their lead but Chowdhury came to his side’s rescue with a fingertip save to keep Mathias Mirabaje’s dipping shot out.

Not happy with his team's performance, Kerala Blasters coach David James introduced 19-year-old teenager, Deependra Singh Negi early in the second half. It turned out to be a masterstroke. 

Barely minutes after coming on for his ISL debut, Negi brought the home side on level terms. In the 48th minute, Jackichand Singh’s corner was met by the youngster at the near post and it took a deflection of a Delhi player before going into the net.

The goal gave Kerala a much need boost and they pushed on. Negi could have given the home side the lead 10 minutes later when Lalruatthara Lalruatthara’s cross from the right found him in the box. But he could only direct the ball wide of the post under pressure from defenders.

As the game progressed, there were chances created at either ends as both sides pushed for a winner. For Delhi, a couple of those chances fell to their main man Kalu Uche, but the big Nigerian failed to make them count. At the other end, Negi again stepped up for his side and won a penalty in the 75th minute. 

Pratik Chowdhary’s lunging tackle brought the youngster down inside the box and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty for the second time in the game. Iain Hume did the rest from the spot to give the home side the lead much to the delight of their supporters.

Blasters look to keep nothing to chance

Kochi: The appointment of David James as the head coach at the turn of the year, brought a fresh resurgence to Kerala Blasters in the Hero Indian Super League. The former England goalkeeper oversaw two wins and a draw in his first three games in charge but after having suffered two consecutive defeats in their last two games against Jamshedpur FC and FC Goa, the pressure is back on the 'Yellow Army' and more so on the coach who replaced former Manchester United A team Dutch coach Rene Meulensteen. 

The Blasters are currently seventh in the league standings with 14 points from their 12 games, and desperately need a win against Delhi Dynamos when the two sides meet at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday to keep their hopes of making it to the top four places alive. 

"Obviously, it's not a position we wanted to be in at the start of the season. We have been watching games and hoping there are wins for the teams below us so that it gives us a chance to catch up with teams above us on the table.  But it's simple, we have got six games in hand, we plan to win all of them. But that still might not be enough," James told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

To strengthen their chances, Kerala Blasters have also signed Icelandic striker Gudjon Baldvinsson to replace Dutch striker Mark Sifneos, who was released from the club earlier this week. "With the loss of Mark (Sifineos) to injury, Gudjon is someone who gives a different option going forward. He is an accomplished player in Iceland," James said.

KBFC coach David James a tough task in hand

The Kerala Blasters coach also hinted that the club may sign few more players before the January transfer window closes. "With the transfer window still open, there is a chance to bring in few more players to replace some of the injured players in the current team. The work is not quite finished," he added.

For Delhi Dynamos, who have been languishing at the bottom of the ISL points table, a place in the top four may be out of reach already but they still have a lot to play for. "For us, there is not much chance of making it to the top four now," Delhi Dynamos head coach, Miguel Angel Portugal conceded at the pre-match pre-conference. But the Spanish tactician added that his side will want to win the remaining games to finish the season on a high. 

And for the game against Kerala, there will be added determination in his side after having suffered a 3:1 loss to them at home in the first leg played earlier in the month. Talking about Kerala Portugal said, "There mentality has changed with the appointment of a new coach. It's an important game for both of us." 

Bengaluru back on top with 2-1 win over NorthEast

Bengaluru:Bengaluru FC returned to the top of the Hero Indian Super League table after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over NorthEast United at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday. 

Spanish defender Juanan scored the opening goal to give BFC the lead before Marcinho equalised for the visitors from the spot. But it was BFC skipper Sunil Chhetri who scored the winner to take BFC to the top again. The victory means BFC are a point above Chennaiyin after the same number of games. The Blues have now won four of their last five matches.

Seminlen Doungel, still fresh from his hat-trick against Chennaiyin FC, tried to go for the spectacular when he went for a back-heeled effort early on. He was in the thick of the action again, but this time his high-boot led to an innocuous looking free kick for Bengaluru. Edu Garcia aimed straight for the danger area and Juanan somehow flicked it into the net to give the home side the lead. 

Sunil Chhetri of Bengaluru FC celebrates after scoring against NorthEast United FC

They almost doubled their lead but Chhetri's low effort was saved by the goalkeeper's foot and then a well-worked free kick was easily defended by NorthEast. The two chances came immediately after BFC had taken the lead and could have really hurt the visitors.

Lenny Rodriguez then set up Garcia with one of the passes of the league but the finish was very poor and didn't do justice to the precise pass. Juanan had another shy on goal with a header but this time it was just wide. 

Then Bengaluru gave away a penalty and allowed NorthEast to score completely against the run of play. It was a soft penalty where Subhasish Bose's arm struck the ball after a sliding tackle. Marcinho blasted the penalty past Gurpreet Singh.

The second half saw Garcia get another chance - but he made things difficult for himself and his attempt to curl the ball into the net went begging. Minutes later, a cross from Harmanjot Khabra eventually bounced at an odd angle for Chhetri, but he brilliantly scored at the far post - an impeccable finish. 

Doungel and Cezario were then through on goal with a fine combination but somehow didn't even hit the target. Most of the final quarter of an hour was about substitutions and a flurry of yellow cards. Until the 81st minute, when Nirmal Chhetri found John Mosquero who's header went over. NorthEast was creating half chances, but not finishing them.

They would regret that - as the whistle soon went off after the last highlight of the match - when NorthEast could only force a sharp save from Gurpreet.

Leaders Chennaiyin add to ATK’s woes

Kolkata: Change in coach brought no change in fortunes for ATK as the defending champions succumbed to Chennaiyin FC 1-2 in the Hero Indian Super League clash at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on Thursday.

The departure of Teddy Sheringham meant technical director Ashley Westwood was handed charge as interim chief coach. The man who took Bengaluru FC to the top of Indian football in the I-League and Federation Cup started his ISL career on a losing note, despite his team surging ahead through debutant Martin Paterson in the 44th minute.

Chennaiyin FC struck back in the second session as Mailson Alves scored his first ever goal in the ISL to bring Chennaiyin on level terms in the 51st minute and then Jeje Lalpekhlua scored his seventh goal of the season to give visitors all three points in the 64th minute.

Jeje Lalpekhlua of Chennaiyin FC celebrates after scoring the winner against ATK 
The victory took Chennaiyin FC to the top of the table, jumping two places with 23 points from 12 matches. ATK are still not out of the race but with just 12 points from 11 matches, they have left themselves with too much to do for the rest of their campaign.

ATK interim coach Ashley Westwood tried to inject freshness into the team. He left Zequinha on the bench for the first time in this campaign. That Zequinha was needed in the first half itself because Ryan Taylor was injured, and Zequinha got injured in the second session tossed up home team’s plans.

Expectedly, both teams played safe at the start and hardly took any risk. Both tried their luck from a distance and it was not until the 35th minute that any of the team had a shot on goal. It were Chennaiyin FC who tested the rival goalkeeper with attempts but Debjit Majumder didn’t have to do much when Raphael Augusto and Anirudh Thapa tried to break the deadlock.

The deadlock was broken in the 44th minute but it was ATK who got the first success, despite Chennaiyin FC doing most of the attacking. Debutant Martin Paterson scored for ATK as he headed Paterson’s cross which goalkeeper Karanjit Singh saved but the rebound struck Paterson and hurried into the goal. It was the 150th goal of the league this season.

Chennaiyin FC got their rewards in the second session. Anirudh Thapa did well to float a corner-kick into the middle and an unmarked Alves headed it past the goalkeeper into the back of the net. 

Chennaiyin’s winner came through a lucky Jeje as he benefitted most when Inigo Calderon played the ball towards the near post and goalkeeper Debjit Majumder palmed it onto Jeje

Bengaluru seek a double over resurgent North East United FC

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC has been setting the pace on the points table in this season's Hero Indian Super League. The team has gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed. Albert Roca's men are currently in the second place with 21 points in the league standings, however he is aware that the job is not yet done when you have five other teams breathing down the neck. 

Their first of the challenge in maintaining top spot starts against the resurgent North East United FC at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Friday.

Bengaluru had to work hard for a 1:0 victory against the Highlanders when the two sides met in Guwahati earlier in the season and Roca is anticipating nothing less from the visitors. "We had to grind out a win in Guwahati and that game was an indicator of how tough a side they can be. A lot has changed for them off the pitch too and I know they will give us a hard time," the Spanish tactician in charge at Bengaluru said.  

"We approach every game with a certain degree of caution but not at the cost of compromising on our philosophy, and this game won’t be any different. NorthEast have been growing in confidence as the tournament has progressed and I haven’t been surprised at all," he added.

NorthEast United pulled off an inspiring 3:1 victory over Chennaiyin FC in their last outing, and Bengaluru FC would not want to suffer a similar fate with other teams’ are hot on their heals. At the moment, there are only three points separating the top place FC Pune City, on 22 points and fourth place FC Goa with 19 points to their credit. 

Bengaluru FC doesn’t want to settle anything less than victory in their remaining campaign to assure play-off. "Looking at how tight the top half of the table is, I would say 21 more points from the remaining seven games," Roca said.

Bengaluru FC are facing a gruelling fixture having returned to city from Bhutan only yesterday late night, and are scheduled to play next five games off 14 days. “Calendar is very hectic on us but this is a situation we cannot control. We are at a stage where every game is vital if we are to seal a spot in the semis. Fortunately, I have a squad that is willing to step up when called upon.”

The trip to Bengaluru FC will be Avram Grant's first away game as the head coach of North East United. The former Chelsea manager is quite hopeful that his side can repeat the feat against Bengaluru.

"I have seen them on television. They are a good team and I like the way they play. But as we have shown in our last match that we have the ability to win games," Grant said.

North East United are current 9 points off the top four places with just 8 more games left in the season. Talking about his sides chances of making it to the playoffs, Grant added, "Of course at the start of the season, the objective was a place in the top four. But now we just need to do the right thing. With so many points behind we just need to focus on the next game."

Excitement in air as ATK face Chennaiyin FC

Kolkata: ATK interim coach Ashley Westwood is confident that his team can still defend their title in the Hero Indian Super League. ATK are the most successful team in the Hero ISL winning the trophy twice in three years. 

This year, the defending champions have stuttered and are placed eighth with 12 points from 10 matches. The lacklustre showing led to the mutual parting of ways between ATK and chief coach Teddy Sheringham but Westwood believes their season is far from over.

The challenge for ATK would be to improve on their victories this season; they have won just three of their 10 matches and Westwood will have his task cut out against Chennaiyin FC at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on Thursday.

 
“We don’t have lot of time to instil massive difference. Hope we can inject a little bit of freshness, new faces can change things a bit,” said Westwood.

Westwood needs no introduction and remains a popular figure in Indian football due to his successful three-year stint with Bengaluru FC. Taking charge of an ISL team, although temporarily, is a new experience for him but he is ready for the challenge.

“Temporarily, I am in charge. I’ve been a head coach before, coached for four years; three years full time in India, so I don’t see any difficulty. I am confident in what I do and confident in the team. This is part and parcel of football. It's not difficult at all,” said Westwood, who confirmed that star striker Robbie Keane is unavailable for this match due to injury. 

It will be baptism by fire for Westwood in the ISL as ATK face Chennaiyin FC, who are placed second with 20 points from 11 matches and have already won more than double the matches what ATK did.

Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory returns to take charge of the team after serving a three-match ban. The visitors lost their last match against NorthEast United FC and Gregory is hoping that there is no revival at ATK with Ashley taking charge.

“Sometimes these kind of things happen. New guy comes in and suddenly everything changes. We saw what happened at NorthEast couple of weeks ago. My good friend Avram Grant came in and they got an amazing victory against FC Goa. Sometimes it works and sometimes doesn’t. I just have to make sure it doesn’t work (for ATK),” said Gregory.

Gregory was full of praise for ATK’s achievements since the start of the season and was looking forward to the huge clash.

“To me and all my players, we look at ATK like the Manchester United of India. It’s a huge club. Obviously, they have been champions twice. We have been champions once (but) we still look up to ATK. 25 players want to play tomorrow night because it’s ATK. They are fired up. At the start of season when the fixtures come out, the first thing I did was ‘when do we play ATK’. That’s what they do in England; ‘when do we play Manchester United’,” said the Chennaiyin FC coach.

When the teams met in the first leg at home, Chennaiyin FC won 3-2 in a match that has been described by the former England midfielder and Premier League manager as “one of the most exciting game of my complete career.”

Back to wall, Dynamos’ hope to fight for survival

​​Delhi: Delhi Dynamos, on the brink of being eliminated from the competition, face an uphill task of overcoming the table toppers Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League Super Sunday clash at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

The home side desperately needs a win if they have to keep any hopes for survival as the ISL enters into business end of competition. So not surprisingly their coach Miguel Angel Portugal has declared that his team will treat the match as "a final."  

When asked about how he'll approach tomorrow's game, Portugal told reporters, "For us now this match is like a final."  

The fortunes of these two teams couldn't have been different at this stage of the Hero Indian Super League. Delhi Dynamos are struggling to find any form and are currently languishing at the base of the points table. Portugal's side has just managed to get four points from nine games so far. 

Their last outing at home ended in 3-1 loss to Kerala FC. Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, are leading the league standings, and  Albert Roca side would try everything possible to take advantage of the out-of-form Dynamos to increase their lead at the top.

Talking about the last game Portugal said, "We deserved more from the game. We played good. We had 70% of the ball possession. Kerala took their chances and the game ended 3-1."  The Spanish coach also backed his players despite his team's lack of form "Well, for the next I have almost the same team. I think my players have executed the plans well. 

The visitors come in the game with two back-to-back wins over ATK and Kerala and will be full of confidence when they go out on the field. But at the same time, their coach Albert Roca doesn't want to take anything lightly. Talking about the opponents he said, "I have a lot of respect for their coach Portugal. They have been playing good football but they have been unlucky at the same time. We'll have to wary of their threats." 

Bengaluru FC have been exceptional so far in their debut ISL season. Having players like Sunil Chettri in top form has also been really helpful, and coach Roca was full of praise for this team at the press conference. "We have some of the best players in the country. We have the captain of the national team but you still have to make a team out of it. So we have to keep learning and improving especially tomorrow to get the right result," he said.

Zequinha provides hope for ATK as NorthEast United suffer

Guwahati: ATK held their nerves to defeat NorthEast United FC 1-0 in a vital away victory in the Hero Indian Super League clash at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, on Friday.

The victory lifts them to sixth place after nine matches and suddenly gives them hope, and takes some wind off the sails of NorthEast United FC, who had beaten FC Goa in their previous encounter.

Zequinha was the star of the show, striking in the 73rd minute to give his side the lead and the winner. He had been threatening for a while before the ball graciously fell to him after a period of pressure from ATK. The Portuguese hammered in a volley into the far corner, his connection too sweet to not find the back of the net. 

Z equinha celebrates after scoZring against NorthEast United FC

If the first half was a slow affair, the second one started with a bang. Danilo Lopes made easy work of Jordi Montel before taking a stinging shot from outside the box. Debjit Majumder was equal to the task though, making a breath-taking fingertip save to deny the hosts. Montel made his presence felt at the other end though, when his header was a whisker wide. He then released Zequinha on the left to cross for Robin Singh but Sambinha was in the way to stop the Indian striker from scoring. 

Lopes wasn't done making Montel look like a bad defender. He was at the end of a Nirmal Chhetri long ball and Montel allowed the attacker to run in behind. His first time effort was as audacious as it was close to going in the back of the net. 

Zequinha and Lopes were ruling the second half. As the game went into end-to-end mode, the former cut in, like he so often does, and forced a fine save from TP Rehenesh. It was becoming inexplicable how the match was still goalless when Zequinha struck to break the deadlock. 

The opening exchanges saw a well-drilled NorthEast keep possession even though it was meaningless, attempting to draw out ATK rather than take the attacking initiative. 

It was only after Malemngamba Meitei started showing his ability to run with the ball and deliver that NorthEast grew in confidence going forward. First, he produced a fine run before being halted, and was at it again with a good delivery which ATK had to be alert to clear. Debjit Majumder's howler almost cost ATK when the goalkeeper needlessly came out for a ball which Tom Thorpe was seeing off - got into a mess with his teammate - before Thorpe cleared away. 

ATK broke forward in the 24th minute through Zequinha's neat run and shot which sailed just over the crossbar. Meitei then threatened again for NorthEast and this time his delivery found Sambinha, whose header was woefully directed wide. Then, within the space of seven chaotic minutes for NorthEast, ATK produced two lovely chances. Jayesh Rane's shot was blocked after an exquisite through ball from Ryan Taylor and then at the stroke of half time, Zequinha blasted it over again when he had the time and space to pick his spot. However, he would eventually deliver to put ATK out of their misery.

Chennaiyin, Pune grapple with coach suspension

Chennai:FC Pune City got four points from their last two matches while coach Ranko Popovic was serving a four-match ban. However the visitors will now have to overcome the absence of not just their coach at the touchline but also their talisman Marcelinho for a crucial Hero Indian Super League encounter against Chennaiyin FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday. 

The Brazilian is Pune City’s leading goal scorer with six strikes, including a hat-trick, and has four assists to boot. He will, however, remain suspended for the next clash after accumulating four bookings. He has missed a match before – against Bengaluru FC – when he was not fully fit and was left on the bench, and it showed as Bengaluru FC walked away with full points. 

“Marcelinho is one of the best player in the league. We will miss him surely but I know our team has quality. If a team cannot play without one player, it’s no team. We know his importance, he is a strong player but we know how (good) is our team,” Pune City Assistant Coach Vladica Grujic said during the pre-match media interaction.

With 16 points from nine matches, Pune City are placed third, just below Chennaiyin FC who have an extra point. This puts them in a good position to push for a play-off place, though the assistant coach warned that they still have plenty to do.

“We have achieved nothing yet because you can be first, fourth or last. Now, it’s time to try to win points to come as close as possible to first four. This is our aim to come in the first four teams,” he said.

Chennaiyin FC are among the more impressive teams in this edition of ISL and are second only to Bengaluru FC. The home team, however, must shake off the absence of their coach John Gregory, who curiously also remains suspended, just like their rivals.

“Both of them are really good coaches and they are working here for the betterment of the game. I hope to see both of them back in the dugout soon,” said Grujic. 

Gregory’s absence should not impact Chennaiyin FC on the field and they should be encouraged with the return of their captain Henrique Soreno who completed serving a one-match suspension of his own.

“We know Pune is strong in attack. They look threatening. We know they are a good attacking side and will come hard at us. We are lucky that our best player, captain (Soreno) is behind. It will be a good contest,” said Assistant Coach Syed Sabir Pasha.

Chennaiyin FC have conceded goals at the death in their last two matches at home against Delhi Dynamos (2-2) and Kerala Blasters (1-1). That has cost them dearly and Pasha called for focus till the final whistle. 

“It hurts us, hurts the players. It’s just lack of focus. We have to play as a team in those last moments. Players also understand I think. It will not happen in the matches to come,” assures Pasha.

Buoyant NorthEast United have ATK in their sights

Guwahati:  may have won their first match under the guidance of their technical advisor Avram Grant, but they will need to be at their best to stop a desperate ATK in a ninth round Hero Indian Super League clash at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, on Friday.

ATK have won just twice in eight games and can cut the gap to the playoff spots to just two points with a victory. 

Their assistant coach Bastob Roy likened the situation to that of Real Madrid in the La Liga - saying that this was how football was and that they would now have to create their own luck rather than rely on the rub of the green.

"Have you seen the situation of Real Madrid? This is football, it's part of the game and we are trying to come out of this situation. We still think we can make the playoffs. The table is very unpredictable and with two wins in a row, we may be able to achieve it. Luck is not with us. Chance factor has been against us. We are not looking behind but looking forward. The only thing we can do is hard work. Luck is not in our hands. In football you have to score and not concede. That's what we work on," he said, not disclosing the team's plans for NorthEast United, who were impressive in their 2-1 win against FC Goa. 

Meanwhile, former Chelsea manager Grant will look for the attitude which was seen against FC Goa, when his side notched their first win after four defeats on the trot. They can leapfrog ATK with a win and that will be the most motivating factor for them.

"I think we need to improve a lot. I like to implement attacking football but for us to reach the desired level is difficult. So the immediate focus is to remain organised and be together. Hopefully that gets us some results," said NorthEast assistant coach Eelco Schattorie.

"Two areas which need work on is to bring the team together. Last week everyone worked hard and had the intention to help each other so that organisation is very important. Secondly, we need to improve in the area of scoring goals but that is the most difficult as well. We can't train today to score and score tomorrow. That is not how it works. That only works when you have (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo," he added.

NorthEast United may not have those two players at their disposal, but they showed what a determined performance can achieve against one of the best teams in the league. More of the same will certainly cause ATK problems.

Gaurs record narrow win over Jamshedpur FC

Margao: FC Goa got back to winning ways after a slender 2-1 victory over Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. Manuel Lanzarote opened the scoring at the end of the first half from the penalty spot after Andre Bikey fouled Brandon Fernandes. Steve Coppell’s men came out firing in the second half and former Gaur Trindade Goncalves headed in an equalizer in the 54th minute. FC Goa however, pushed on from there as Brandon found Lanzarote with a peach of a through ball in the 60th minute. The Spaniard ran towards goal, turned the defender and netted superbly to restore his side’s lead. Edu Bedia could have doubled the lead late in the second half after rounding Subrata Pal but hit the ball against the post.

It was the away side that started on the front foot as Ahmed Jahouh lost possession close to goal allowing Trindade Goncalves a shot at goal. Ali Mohamed was on hand to block his shot. The men of steel passed the ball around with conviction as the Gaurs struggled to keep pace with them. Trindade had another opportunity to score in the 11th minute when Jamshedpur FC were awarded a free kick on the right side, just outside the box. The Brazilian stepped up and curled an effort that flew just wide of the near post.

Jahouh was the first player to go into the referee’s book for a poor foul on Trindade. In the 16th minute, Coro set up Mandar from just outside the box but the winger curled his effort wide. Four minutes later, Jamshedpur had their best chance of the half as Izu Azuka received the ball on the edge of the box, turned Bruno Pinheiro and unleashed a ferocious effort at goal which luckily for the Gaurs, flew wide of the far post. As the half wore on, FC Goa began to get back into the game and strung a few passes around. However, they were still unable to unlock the compact Jamshedpur back line. As the half petered to a finish, the game kicked into life. Narayan Das intercepted a clearance in the 38th minute, kept possession, dodged a defender and unleashed a left footed effort that just about flew above the cross bar.

Just as the half looked like it would end all square, things took a dramatic turn. Brandon and Lanzarote played a neat one two in the penalty box and just as the winger could get a shot away; he was tackled by Andre Bikey. The Gaurs appealed for a penalty and the referee immediately pointed to the spot much to the disappoint of Bikey and the rest of the Jamshedpur side. Subrata Pal was cautioned for dissent in the ensuing scuffle. Lanzarote stepped up to take the penalty and hit it to the left of Pal who dived the right side but was unable to save it. The referee though, asked for the penalty to be retaken due to a breach in the penalty box. Once again, the Spaniard stepped up and hit his penalty in the exact same spot. Pal once again dived the right way but couldn’t get a hand on it. Soon after, the referee blew the whistle for half-time.

The men of steel came out all guns firing in the second period as well in a bid to get back in the game. They bombarded the Goan box with a number of crosses and were finally successful in the 54th minute. Jerry picked up the ball on the right wing from a clearance and curled a pin point pass towards the centre of the box where Trindade rose highest and headed it past Kattimani who was rooted to the spot. The Gaurs then began to settle down once more as they looked for a way ahead in the match. Coro received the ball in the centre of the park in the 59th minute and charged at goal before unleashing an effort that went just wide of the post. Hardly a minute later however, the Gaurs were back in front. Brandon took possession of the ball in the centre and threaded a neat through pass through to Lanzarote who ran at goal, turned the defender and curled a shot at the far post to restore the lead. Jamshedpur had the chance to restore parity once again in the 68th minute after substitute Farukh Choudhary found himself with the ball at his feet in a scramble. He failed to test Kattimani however as the chance went begging.

The men of steel pushed hard as Belfort made a nuisance of himself in the box. The Gaurs however, had a chance to extend their lead in the 77th minute as Coro played Mandar through brilliantly. The winger’s shot however flew above the crossbar. The Gaurs were sitting behind, soaking in the pressure and playing on the counter and should have doubled their lead in the 86th minute when Manvir played the ball forward for Edu Bedia who ran at Pal, rounded him but somehow hit the post with the goal at his mercy. Thereafter, the Gaurs defended resolutely through seven minutes of injury time and held out for a narrow win.