The ISL Golden Boot has traditionally been given to the highest goal-scorer in a particular Indian Super League season. In the seven years of ISL history, only one player - FC Goa’s Ferran Corominas - has won the award twice. 

As we conclude the ISL 2021-22 season, we take a look at the list of all the ISL Golden Boot winners:

ISL 2021-22 Golden Boot winner - Bartholomew Ogbeche

Hyderabad FC forward Bartholomew Ogbeche won the Golden Boot award for the ISL 2021-22 season with 18 goals from 20 games. Ogbeche's incredible form helped Hyderabad FC clinch their maiden Indian Super League title by beating Kerala Blasters FC in the final. The 37-year-old Nigerian netted eight more goals than Igor Angulo of FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC's Greg Stewart, who scored 10 goals each in the tournament.

You are looking at our #HeroISL 2021-22 Golden Boot Winner, Bart Ogbeche, for scoring 1️⃣8️⃣⚽s! #HFCKBFC #HeroISLFinal #FinalForTheFans #HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/P9YVhLK5kR

�?Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 20, 2022

ISL 2020-21 Golden Boot winner - Igor Angulo

FC Goa forward Igor Angulo pipped ATK Mohun Bagan talisman Roy Krishna in his maiden ISL season to bag the Golden Boot award in ISL 7. Angulo scored 14 goals from 21 games just like Krishna but Angulo's better goal-per-minute ratio helped him win the award.

Presenting you 2020/21 @IndSuperLeague Golden Boot winner! #RiseAgain #HeroISL pic.twitter.com/Kukna24lQ9

�?FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) March 13, 2021

Meanwhile, Krishna missed the Golden Boot award by a whisker for the second consecutive year as he had scored a joint league-high of 15 goals but Nerijus Valskis had more assists. The criteria was, however, changed in ISL 2020-21 season as the goals per minute ratio was applied to break a tie.

ISL 2019-20 Golden Boot winner - Nerijus Valskis

Chennaiyin FC, who had finished fourth in the ISL table in the 2019-20 season league stages, will be grateful to the prolific Nerijus Valskis for their run to the final. The Lithuanian forward, who will play for Jamshedpur FC this season, had scored 15 goals to finish as the joint-highest goal-scorer in the 2019-20 ISL season. 

However, with ATK Mohun Bagan’s Roy Krishna and Kerala Blasters�?Bartholomew Ogbeche each with 15 goals to their name as well, the ISL rules had to dig deeper and identify the player with most assists to give away the ISL Golden Boot.

1�?�?Goals �?br />6�?Assists �?br />Runner-up in the #HeroISL �?a href="http://twitter.com/NValskis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@NValskis not only won the Golden Boot award but gave us all a season to remember pic.twitter.com/3qq5bL5cUG

�?Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 5, 2020

Interestingly, both Valskis and Krishna had netted 15 goals and provided six assists, which further narrowed down the final selection to the player playing fewer minutes. Valskis, who eventually walked away with the ISL Golden Boot award, had played 20 matches - one fewer than Krishna.

Ogbeche finished third with 15 goals and a solitary assist to his name in 18 games.

ISL 2018-19 Golden Boot winner - Ferran Corominas

Ferran Corominas, who is ISL’s all-time top scorer with 48 goals, claimed his second ISL Golden Boot in the 2018-19 season after scoring 16 goals in 20 games. The Spanish forward was significantly ahead of his competitors - Mumbai City FC’s Moudou Sougou and Bartholomew Ogbeche, then playing for NorthEast United. Both had notched 12 goals each in 18 games.

ISL 2017-18 Golden Boot winner - Ferran Corominas

Ferran Corominas is the only player in ISL’s history to have won two ISL Golden Boot awards and the first one came in his debut season. The Spaniard had joined FC Goa in 2017 after a brief stint in Cyprus, and it didn’t take long for him to assert his authority in India. In his debut season with the club, Coro outscored eventual-champions Bengaluru FC’s striking duo of Miku (15) and Suni Chhetri (14) by scoring 18 goals in 20 games. 

Ferran Corominas fired 18 goals for @FCGoaOfficial - the most by any player to win the Swift Golden Boot Award convincingly this season! #LetsFootball #HeroISL @MSArenaOfficial pic.twitter.com/EW6kvbGk4s

�?Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 19, 2018

A 34-year-old ISL debutant, Corominas had scored his maiden goal against Chennaiyin FC before going on to bag consecutive hat-tricks against Bengaluru FC (a 4-3 win) and Kerala Blasters (a 5-2 win) that season. His return of 18 goals in the campaign is, in fact, the most goals a player scored in a single ISL season.

ISL 2016 Golden Boot winner - Marcelinho

Marcelinho, who will be playing for his fourth club in ISL 2020-21, had scored 10 goals and assisted five times to win the ISL Golden Boot in 2016. Representing the now-defunct Delhi Dynamos, his effort had taken the team to the semi-finals after finishing third in the points table.

ISL only had eight teams in 2016 and Marcelinho’s closest competitor was Iain Hume of ATK. The Canadian international had scored seven goals in 14 games that season.

ISL 2015 Golden Boot winner - Stiven Mendoza

Chennaiyin FC forward Stiven Mendoza scored 13 goals in 16 appearances to run away with the ISL Golden Boot award in 2015. Iain Hume was the closest competitor with 11 goals. 

Mendoza’s ability of taking on defenders and beating them with pace was a sheer treat for the Super Machans. It was at the back of his efforts that Chennaiyin FC finished third in the points table before going all the way to the final to face FC Goa. 

Mendoza stepped up on the biggest stage to score the winner in the added minutes of the injury time to take home the title as well as the ISL Golden Boot award.

ISL 2014 Golden Boot winner - Elano

Elano was one of the marquee players to have played in the inaugural edition of the Indian Super League. The former Manchester City midfielder had arrived with much fanfare and he lived up to the hype as well. 

First season. First Golden Boot.

Second season. First ISL trophy. #MersElano made his time at CFC unforgettable #AattamReloaded pic.twitter.com/ZvDrF7ZpvR

�?Chennaiyin FC (@ChennaiyinFC) June 14, 2020

Signing a three-month contract with Chennaiyin FC, Elano had announced his arrival with a sensational free-kick on his ISL debut against FC Goa. The carnage continued throughout the season as the Brazilian ended his tenure with eight goals in 11 games to finish as the top scorer of the 2014 edition, thus making him the first ISL Golden Boot winner.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @FCGoaOfficial

The race for the Golden Boot in the Indian Super League was kicked-off by ATK Mohun Bagan attacking midfielder Hugo Boumous in the ISL 2021-22 season curtain-raiser against Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Friday, November 19.

How the ISL golden boot award is determined 

The Golden Boot, given to the ISL top scorer at the end of a season, is one of the most prestigious individual awards in India's premier football league.

According to the previous ISL rules, if multiple players accumulate the same number of goals, the player with a higher assist count is handed the award. In the unlikely scenario of a deadlock in the assist count as well, the player who has played the least minutes that season will be awarded the coveted prize.

Former FC Goa striker Igor Angulo won the Golden Boot in ISL 2020-21, having scored 14 goals.

Last season, the top scorer would be determined by minutes per goal and the practice will continue in the latest edition of India's premier football competition.

Check | Golden Boot winners from every ISL season

ISL top scorer for 2021-22: Golden Boot award contenders

Hyderabad FC forward Bartholomew Ogbeche bagged the ISL 2021-22 Golden Boot award with 18 goals from 20 matches. ISL's all-time top scorer was followed by Greg Stewart of Jamshedpur FC with 10 goals and 10 assists.

Among the homegrown players, ATK Mohun Bagan's Liston Colaco surprised one and all with his amazing displays. The 23-year-old forward netted eight times this season and has also provided five assists.

ISL top scorer 2021-22 rankings

Player	Matches	Goals	Assists
Bartholomew Ogbeche - Hyderabad FC	20	18	1
Greg Stewart - Jamshedpur FC	21	10	8
Igor Angulo - Mumbai City FC	19	10	2
Cleiton Silva - Bengaluru FC	19	9	3
Daniel Chukwu - Jamshedpur FC	21	9	1

Feature photo: ISL Media

Jamshedpur FC (JFC) will lock horns with ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) in the 20th match of the Indian Super League 2021-22 season at GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa on Monday, December 6.

JFC vs ATKMB Dream11 prediction

Under the tutelage of Owen Coyle, JFC are currently unbeaten in the ongoing edition of ISL. The Red Miners have registered one win and two draws in three matches so far. With five points on the board, Jamshedpur are currently placed fifth in the ISL 2021-22 standings.

On the other hand, ATKMB will look to bounce back from their 1-5 defeat against Mumbai City FC on Wednesday. Having secured convincing victories against arch-rivals SC East Bengal (3-0) and Kerala Blasters FC (4-2), the Mariners are currently placed fourth in the standings with six points from three matches.

ATK Mohun Bagan and Jamshedpur FC had faced each other twice last season, winning one game apiece.

Going by recent form and team combination, ATKMB are expected to bag maximum points against JFC.

JFC vs ATKMB Dream11 team tips for Indian Super League 2021-22

Top tip: Best forward

Nerijus Valskis has been one of the standout players for Jamshedpur FC in ISL 2021-22. The ISL 2019-20 Golden Boot winner has already netted twice and provided one assist in three matches. The in-form forward is likely to trouble the shaky ATK Mohun Bagan backline on Monday.

Top tip: Best midfielder

ATK Mohun Bagan’s attacking midfielder Hugo Boumous has justified why the Mariners paid more than two crore rupees in transfer fee in order to acquire his services from defending champions Mumbai City FC. The French-Moroccan footballer has been sensational for ATKMB this season, controlling the tempo of the game from midfield while also bagging two goals to his name. Boumous will once again be the key player for ATK Mohun Bagan against Jamshedpur FC.

Top tip: Best defender and goalkeeper

Jamshedpur FC captain Peter Hartley has been impressive in the first three ISL matches this season. The 33-year-old centre-back has been rock solid at the heart of the defence and has conceded two goals so far. Hartley also scored a decisive goal against SC East Bengal to salvage a point for the Red Miners. He will play an important role for Jamshedpur against a strong ATKMB forward line.

For the goalkeeper spot, Jamshedpur FC’s Rehenesh TP is expected to be busier than ATK Mohun Bagan’s Amrinder Singh. With the likes of Roy Krishna, Hugo Boumous and Liston Colaco at the opposition team, Rehenesh will be required to make important saves and thus, will have the opportunity to garner more fantasy points through his saves.

JFC vs ATKMB probable playing XI

JFC playing XI (probable): Rehenesh TP (goalkeeper); Laldinliana Renthlei, Eli Sabia, Peter Hartley (captain), Ricky Lallawmawma; Seiminlen Doungel, Jitendra Singh, Pronay Halder, Komal Thatal; Greg Stewart, Nerijus Valskis

ATKMB playing XI (probable): Amrinder Singh (goalkeeper), Pritam Kotal, Deepak Tangri, Carl McHugh, Subhasish Bose, Manvir Singh, Lenny Rodrigues, Liston Colaco, Hugo Boumous, Roy Krishna (captain), Joni Kauko

SportsAdda will bring you Jamshedpur FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan FC live score.

Featured photo: ISL Media

Former FC Goa attacker Ferran Corominas and Hyderabad FC striker Bartholomew Ogbeche share the record for most goals by a player in one Indian Super League season.

The Nigerian forward Ogbeche netted his record-equalling 18th goal of the season in the 3-1 win over ATK Mohun Bagan in the semi-final first leg of ISL 2021-22. Interestingly, he is the record holder for the most hat-tricks in the Indian Super League.

Corominas, who was Indian Super League’s leading goal scorer for a considerable amount of time, got on the scoresheet in the very first game of the 2017-18 campaign against Chennaiyin FC, scoring once in a 3-2 win. The Spaniard netted 18 times in 20 appearances during the season as Goa reached the semi-final before being eliminated.

Goa won four of their first five matches that season and Coro scored eight goals during those outings, including two hat-tricks against Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters. After a midseason slump that saw Goa go on a five-match winless run, Coro returned to his best, scoring five goals in his team’s last three league stage games.

Coro came close to matching his tally from the 2017-18 season as he registered 16 goals in 20 appearances.

The 2019-20 ISL season was the most competitive among goal-scorers with as many as three players - Bartholomew Ogbeche, Roy Krishna and Nerijus Valskis - finishing with 15 goals. The Golden Boot, however, was awarded to Valskis since the Lithuanian had more assists to his name.

A couple of seasons before the aforementioned trio battled for the Golden Boot, former Bengaluru FC forward Miku had scored the same number of goals (15) in the 2017-18 ISL campaign. Riding on his return, the Blues reached the final and despite Miku’s 92nd-minute strike in the match, the Blues lost 2-3 to Chennaiyin FC.

Most goals by a player in one Indian Super League season

Player	Goals	Season	Team
Ferran Corominas	18	2017-18	FC Goa
Bartholomew Ogbeche	18	2021-22	Hyderabad FC
Ferran Corominas	16	2018-19	FC Goa
Bartholomew Ogbeche	15	2019-20	Kerala Blasters
Nerijus Valskis	15	2019-20	Chennaiyin FC
Roy Krishna	15	2019-20	ATK Mohun Bagan
Miku	15	2017-18	Bengaluru FC

 

Featured photo: ISL Media

The Indian Super League (ISL) semi-final offers the top-four teams from the group stage an opportunity to showcase their title credentials.

Among the 12 ISL semi-finals that have been played so far, nothing comes close to the mouth-watering encounter between table-toppers FC Goa and fourth-placed Chennaiyin FC in the sixth edition.

Going into the Indian Super League (ISL) 2019-20 season semi-final clash, the Gaurs held the lead in the FC Goa vs Chennaiyin head-to-head record. They had eight wins in 12 matches and started as favourites in the contest as they were on a four-match winning streak against the Marina Machans. 

The build-up to the 2019-20 ISL semi-final was simply spectacular, from Chennaiyin FC’s perspective. 

Six games into the campaign, the John Gregory-led Chennaiyin FC were languishing second from bottom but the arrival of English coach Owen Coyle not only brought about a new style of play but also kickstarted a renaissance that saw them finish fourth and carried forward to the playoffs.

FC Goa, on the flip side, had a bumpy ride in the first seven matchdays of ISL 6 but after their 2-1 victory over ATK during matchday eight, the Gaurs maintained their ascendancy to the summit of the ISL points table. 

Spain’s Ferrán Corominas (14 goals) and French-Moroccan attacking midfielder Hugo Boumous (11 goals) combined to score 25 of the team’s 46 goals as FC Goa topped the league stage. 

Interestingly, the Gaurs claimed the first-ever ISL League Winners Shield and also became the first Indian football club to qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage.

In the first of the Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa two-legged semi-final, the Gaurs were hammered 4-1 in Chennai on February 29 and no one expected FC Goa to make any kind of a comeback.

“It’s not us who have to turn things around, it's Goa,�?Chennaiyin FC coach Owen Coyle said ahead of the match. “We have to stay focused on playing our game. We won’t change our style.

“We have shown that we are a goal threat and Goa know that. They know up close that we can create and score goals. Goa has some wonderful players and we have huge respect for them and how they play. It’s set to be a fantastic game. We come here with confidence in our advantage.�?/span>

That confidence was shaken in just 22 minutes of the second leg as FC Goa struck twice to make it 3-4 on aggregate and keep the hopes of a miraculous comeback alive.

FC Goa applied massive pressure on the visitor’s defence as their efforts finally bore fruit when Chennaiyin’s Lucian Goian miscued a header that went straight into his own net in the 10th minute. Moments later, Mourtada Fall headed home a Brandon Fernandes free-kick in the 21st minute, and this goal kept the home crowd beaming.

After the stunning first-half performance from Sergio Lobera’s men, the Gaurs looked all favourites to erase their 4-1 deficit from the first leg and qualify for the summit clash.

21' Fall heads in to score the second goal @BrandonFern10's delivery from a free-kick is met with a towering header from the centre-back.

FCG 2-0 CFC (agg 3-4)#FCGCFC #HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/AFp52LIGsC

�?Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 7, 2020

However, the hosts conceded two goals within 14 minutes of the second half courtesy Chennaiyin’s Lallianzuala Chhangte and Nerijus Valskis to bring the aggregate to 6-3. The equation meant the Gaurs required as many as four goals to have any hopes of playing their third ISL final.

Game 'Chhanger' @lzchhangte7 cancels out @FCGoaOfficial's away goal advantage from the first leg! #FCGCFC #HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/OTsaaW8q1P

�?Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 7, 2020

Meanwhile, Edu Bedia made it 3-2 as the fixture entered the last 10 minutes of regulation time and the goal marked FC Goa’s 50th goal of the season. Mourtada Fall’s 83rd-minute strike took the teams�?score to 4-2, however, FC Goa still required two more goals in the final seven minutes to sneak into the final and script a miraculous comeback. That, though, didn’t happen.

Even though FC Goa won the tie, Chennaiyin FC booked their place in the final with an aggregate of 6-5 in the 2019-20 ISL semi-final.

An ISL semi-final of character

“We know it was a tough game,�?Matourda Fall said later. “We had to play 100 per cent to win this game. I thank the team as we worked together. In the first half, we were leading 2-0 but we conceded also. 

“We tried our best to give everything, to play for the t-shirt, to play for the team, to play for the fans to be in the final. It was difficult today but this is football.�?/span>

Meanwhile, FC Goa interim coach Clifford Miranda praised his team’s efforts. “We came back strongly in the first half, took the lead, missed chances, scored chances,�?he said.

“We came out in the second half, and if Jackichand Singh’s shot had gone in, it would have been 3-0 and we would have been right there. It is part of football. 

“We fought really well. We came back and hit the crossbar, their goalkeeper saved, they made goal-line saves. I’m extremely proud of these boys, the way they played and the way they showed character,�?Miranda added.

Chennaiyin went on to play ATK -- who beat defending champions Bengaluru FC in their ISL semi-final -- in the final on March 14 and lost 3-1.

Feature image courtesy: 2020 Indian Super League. 

Jamshedpur FC will look to extend their six-match unbeaten streak when they take on FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) at Tilak Maidan in Vasco da Gama on Wednesday.

Under head coach Owen Coyle, Jamshedpur FC have been rock solid at the back with their defensive pairing of Peter Hartley and Stephen Eze conceding just one goal in the last three matches, keeping two clean sheets. The Red Miners�?only defeat came against Chennaiyin FC in their opening match of the ISL 2020-21 season. 

On the other hand, FC Goa have struggled with their defence as they have already conceded eight goals in seven games. In their last two encounters, the Gaurs have faced 29 shots of which 10 have been on target. For Juan Ferrando’s side, this is a must-win encounter after they have lost two games on the trot.

The much-awaited clash will also witness a battle between the two top scorers of ISL 7 for the Golden Boot race-- Igor Angulo and Nerijus Valskis, who are tied on six goals each from seven games. Watch Jamshedpur FC vs FC Goa live on streaming and on TV.

Jamshedpur FC full ISL 2020-21 squad list

Goalkeepers: TP Rehenesh, Pawan Kumar, Niraj Kumar, Raj Mahato, Vishal Yadav

Defenders: Peter Hartley, Stephen Eze, Narender Gehlot, Joyner Lourenco, Laldinliana Renthlei, Karan Amin, Manash Protim Gogoi, Sandip Mandi, Ricky Lallawmawma, Subhash Barua

Midfielders: Aitor Monroy, Alex Lima, Jackichand Singh, Nicholas Fitzgerald, Issac Vanmalsawma, Amarjit Singh, Mobashir Rahman, Jitendra Singh, Manisana Singh, Harsha Parui, Billu Teli, Gorachand Mardi, Gaurab, Bhupender Singh

Forwards: Nerijus Valskis, David Grande, Aniket Jadhav, Sapam Kennedy Singh, William Lalnunfela

FC Goa full ISL 2020-21 squad list

Goalkeepers: Mohammad Nawaz, Naveen Kumar, Dylan D'Silva, Shubham Dhas.

Defenders: Ivan Gonzalez, James Donachie, Seriton Fernandes, Aibanbha Dohling, Leander D'Cunha, Mohamed Ali, Sanson Pereira, Sarineo Fernandes, Saviour Gama.

Midfielders: Edu Bedia, Flan Gomes, Jorge Ortiz, Brandon Fernandes, Alberto Noguera, Lenny Rodrigues, Redeem Tlang, Seiminlen Doungel, Nestor Dias, Phrangki Buam, Princeton Rebello, Alexander Jesuraj, Makan Chothe.

Forwards: Igor Angulo, Ishan Pandita, Aaren D'Silva, Devendra Murgaonkar.

Jamshedpur FC vs FC Goa likely playing XI

Jamshedpur FC predicted playing XI: TP Rehenesh, Laldinliana Renthlei, Peter Hartley, Stephen Eze, Ricky Lallawmawma, Aitor Monroy, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Jackichand Singh, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Alex Lima, Nerijus Valskis.

FC Goa predicted playing XI: Mohammad Nawaz (GK), Ivan Gonzalez, James Donachie, Jorge Mendoza, Brandon Fernandes, Alexander Jesuraj, Igor Angulo, Seriton Fernandes, Saviour Gama, Edu Bedia (C), Lenny Rodrigues.

For ISL odds and ISL betting, visit Sportsbet.io and look for Indian Super League.

Where to watch Jamshedpur FC vs FC Goa 

The Jamshedpur FC vs FC Goa match will be telecast live at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1 Hindi as well as the respective HD TV channels in India.

The JFC vs FCG clash will also be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar and Jio TV.  

Get ISL live scores here.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ @JamshedpurFC

There were a number of top Indian Super League (ISL) transfers that created a lot of interest among the football fans across the country.

As the ISL 2020-21 season gets underway, let’s take a look at some of the high-profile football players who grabbed headlines when ISL transfer market was in swing.

ISL transfer: How it works

The All India Football Federation (AIFF), in June this year, confirmed that it will open the ISL transfer window for the summer from August 1, 2020, till October 20, 2020. The second transfer window, on the other hand, starts on January 1, 2021, and runs till the end of January. The ISL teams will be allowed to acquire new players during this phase only.

The registration of the amateur players, however, can be done anytime during the season. In other ordinances, a club can only sign a minimum of five and a maximum of seven foreign players and at least one of them should be from an AFC-affiliated country. There are, however, no other restrictions in terms of the number of players that can be transferred, restricted to the extent of the squad limit.

ISL transfer market: Big moves of ISL 2020-21

Sandesh Jhingan: Kerala Blastes to ATK Mohun Bagan

ATK Mohun Bagan roped in Indian football team defender Sandesh Jhingan after a long ISL transfer battle with several other clubs.

The former Kerala Blasters FC captain had earlier decided to part ways with the Kochi-based outfit after six consecutive years. Jhingan joined ATK Mohun Bagan on a free transfer and was the most notable signing from the Indian contingent.

Sandesh Jhingan, who made his international debut in 2015, has represented India 36 times and scored 4 goals for the national side.

Interestingly, the Indian football team star defender will make his ATKMB debut against his former side Kerala Blasters in the first match of the ISL this season.

Hugo Boumous: FC Goa to Mumbai City FC

Hugo Boumous�?move from FC Goa to Mumbai City FC has been one of the most talked-about ISL transfers in recent memory. Mumbai City FC paid INR 1.6 crores to secure the services of ISL 2019-20 ‘Hero of the League�?

Boumous had scored 11 goals and also provided 10 assists in just 14 matches in ISL season 6, which helped FC Goa qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League.

The French midfielder had joined the Gaurs in 2018 under head coach Sergio Lobera, who is now the coach of the Islanders and has been instrumental in bringing Hugo Boumous to Mumbai.

Bartholomew Ogbeche: Kerala Blasters to Mumbai City FC

Kerala Blasters�?all-time top goal-scorer Bartholomew Ogbeche has penned a one-year deal with Mumbai City FC. 

The Nigerian had netted 15 goals for the Tuskers and finished as the joint-top scorer in ISL 2019-20 season alongside Chennaiyin FC’s Nerijus Valskis and erstwhile ATK’s Roy Krishna.

Previously, Ogbeche had scored 12 goals playing for NorthEast United in ISL 2018-19.

The Nigerian will bring in plenty of experience in Indian football and can help the Islanders secure their maiden ISL title.

Nerijus Valskis: Chennaiyin FC to Jamshedpur FC

ISL’s Golden Boot winner in season 6, Nerijus Valskis followed his former head coach Owen Coyle from Chennaiyin FC to Jamshedpur FC ahead of ISL 2020-21.

Nerijus Valskis had scored 15 goals and provided six assists in 20 matches for the ‘Marina Machans�?

The Lithuanian footballer has also represented his national side 24 times. He has played his club football in his homeland, Israel, Belarus, Poland, Thailand and Romania. 

Adam Le Fondre: A-League to Mumbai City FC

Mumbai City FC arguably made the biggest signing of the season by roping in Sydney FC star Adam Le Fondre on loan.

Adam Le Fondre, who has also played in the Premier League, has scored 35 goals in just 49 appearances for Sydney FC and helped them win back-to-back A-League titles.

Additionally, Adam Le Fondre was named in the A-League Team of the Season in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Other notable ISL transfers

Nishu Kumar: Among Indian players in the ISL, Nishu Kumar’s transfer also grabbed headlines. After another splendid season with Bengaluru FC, 23-year-old Nishu Kumar decided to move to Kerala Blasters for ISL 2020-21, signing a four-year contract which made him the highest-paid Indian defender.

Redeem Tlang: Redeem Tlang, who scored three goals in the 2019-20 ISL season (his personal best), became FC Goa’s first acquisition when he switched his alliance from NorthEast United FC, signing a pre-contract in June. Despite NorthEast United finishing ninth last season, Tlang showed what he brings to the table.

Marcelinho: Marcelinho, the ISL Golden boot winner of the 2016 season, will play in his fourth Indian Super League club in the 2020-21 season after Odisha FC decided to splash �?8 million to lure the attacker away from Hyderabad FC.

Gary Hooper: Former Celtic and Norwich City forward Gary Hooper has arrived in Kerala Blasters amidst massive fanfare. The 32-year-old is expected to fill the void left by Bartholomew Ogbeche and judging by his experience, it is safe to say the Tuskers have done a fantastic job.

Anthony Pilkington: Hooper’s teammate at Norwich City, Anthony Pilkington signed for SC East Bengal ahead of the 2020-21 season and brings in an experience of over 400 appearances across four tiers of English football leagues and cup competitions. He will certainly be the one to keep a keen eye on.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @MumbaiCityFC

The Indian Super League (ISL) reached new heights during the 2019-20 season, with many players performing beyond expectations for their respective sides, while others not quite reaching the same heights as expected of them.

The season saw a staggering 294 goals being scored at an average of 3.09 per match �?more than any of the past five seasons. With ATK FC coming back on top after a few seasons of declined performances, a lot of their improvements can be attributed to the addition of foreign imports under returning head coach Antonio Lopez Habas.

While many foreign players like Sergio Castel, Agustin Garcia Iniguez and Michael Onwu starred for their respective clubs, none were able to achieve the same kind of success as the five new imports mentioned below.

Roy Krishna

One of the marquee signings of the recently concluded ISL season was the addition of Fijian striker Roy Krishna, from Wellington Phoenix, in the A-League in Australia. He scored more than 50 goals for the New Zealand based side, winning the Golden Boot and the prestigious Johnny Warren medal after a stellar 2018-19 season.

Krishna scored some very important goals for the Kolkata-based club, including a brace against Odisha to draw the game and an equaliser in the second leg of the semi-finals against Bengaluru FC. He was the joint top-scorer in the league alongside Bartholomew Ogbeche and Nerijus Valskis with 15 goals but narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot award, having played more minutes than the Chennaiyin hitman.

Read | Three Indian players who dominated ISL 2019/20

His pace and dribbling and ability made him the perfect poacher, complementing Habas and his counter-attacking style this season. Krishna was also a natural leader on the field for the champions, often turning the tide in games with his precise passing and perfect finishing.

David Williams

David Williams fights off competition from Manuel Onwu, Raphael Messi Bouli and Sergio Castel to make it to this list, courtesy of his brilliant performance for ATK in the playoff stages of the tournament. Joining the club along with Roy Krishna, Williams was another star performer for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

Having garnered experience across Europe and in his home country, the Aussie forward was prolific for ATK as well. Much like his striker partner Roy Krishna, Williams played an important part in ATK’s run to the finals, like the solitary goal he scored in a win over Chennaiyin (which was also the 1000^th goal of the league).

His biggest contribution, however, was undoubtedly the two goals he scored in the second leg of the semifinals, including a thumping header to give his side the lead. His presence behind Krishna was the main reason the striker could make any forward runs and he finished the season with seven goals and five assists in 18 matches.

Aridane Santana

Spanish strikers have been hugely successful in the ISL, with the likes of Manuel Lanzarote and Ferran Corominas finding the back of the net on many occasions. This season was no different, with the addition of Aridane Santana for newcomers Odisha FC proving beneficial to their fight for a playoff spot.

Read | East Bengal set to join ISL, RoundGlass Punjab may follow

Santana scored nine goals and assisted two others in the fourteen matches he played and led a young Odisha side from upfront. Initially taking time to settle at the club, he soon flourished under Josep Gombau and used his physical prowess to good effect. The 32-year-old striker would also play deep into his team’s territory to defend for Odisha, keeping them in the race for the top four till late.

Just when the Bhubaneshwar-based club was gathering up momentum for the top four, Santana’s season was cut short due to an injury. They ended the season sixth in the league table, but the outcome could’ve been quite different had the Spaniard managed to stay fit.

Nerijus Valskis

Chennaiyin FC’s story in the ISL was a fairytale, having scripted a great comeback to reach the finals with Owen Coyle at the helm. Many players such as Lallianzuala Chhangte, Andre Schembri and Edwin Vanspaul were key members of the team, but the pick of the bunch was definitely Nerijus Valskis.

After quite the slow start to his time in the ISL, The Lithuanian striker was the driving attacking force in the Chennaiyin team. He was the joint-top scorer this season but beat both his other contenders to the Golden Boot by virtue of lesser playing time.

Apart from his direct goal contributions, Valskis�?hold-up play was also a key part of Chennaiyin’s game this season. His instinctive runs helped create opportunities for forward forays for Chennaiyin’s pacy wingers, helping them assist as well as score some great goals.

Rafael Crivellaro

Another member of Chennaiyin’s dream team was Rafael Crivellaro. While Valskis was their goal threat, it was Crivellaro who was in charge of creating the opportunities for Chennaiyin FC throughout the season. The Brazil-born footballer came into the two-time ISL champion team after playing in Italy, UAE, Poland and Portugal.

Crivellaro headed the onslaught of the Chennaiyin attackers after the arrival of Irish head coach Owen Coyle. His free-flowing football was key for Chennaiyin and helped the team build counterattacks towards the tail end of the campaign, as Chennaiyin scored a whopping 34 times in 14 games. Crivellaro scored seven of these goals while assisting another eight. Averaging 51 passes per game, Crivellaro also commanded a decent passing accuracy of 58.62.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Punit Paranjpe

The final of the 2019/20 Indian Super League season is on the cards while battles for glory in other leagues have also intensified. ATK will fancy themselves against two-times champions Chennaiyin FC in the final for ISL.

ATK, after going 1-0 down against Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the semi-final, turned the tables with an astounding 3-1 win in the return leg at home. That said, an interesting final is lined up for the ISL faithful on Saturday. For those keeping a tab on Nostragamus fanatsy, these players are here to ease your selection dilemma.

Player: Nerijus Valskis

Team: Chennaiyin FC

Match: Chennaiyin FC vs ATK

The “kis�?of Lithuania, Nerijus Valskis has banged in 14 goals and six assists for Chennaiyin FC and is one of the reasons why his side managed to defy odds late in the campaign. When FC Goa eliminated the three-goal deficit in the second leg against Chennai, it was Valskis�?59-minute strike that helped them go through. 

Nerijus Valskis is fourth in the run for the golden boot this season, tied with Ferran Corominas and trailing just a goal behind Bartholomew Ogbeche of Kerala Blasters and ATK's Roy Krishna. 

Valskis would be an important cog in Owen Coyle’s team if they want to win their third ISL title. 

Player: Ciro Immobile

Team: Lazio

Match: Atalanta vs Lazio

Lazio are challenging for the Serie A title and are giving a star-studded Juventus a run for their money. This has been made possible because of the amazing goal scoring form of their talismanic centre-forward, Ciro Immobile. The 30-year-old has been in a mind-numbing form this season, scoring 27 goals and seven assists for the Eagles.

Apart from his amazing exploits, Lazio have only lost twice when Immobile has scored and only once away. So, when they travel to Atleti Azzurri d'Italia to face fourth-placed Atalanta, they will be rather confident with Immobile upfront. If Lazio want to keep the pressure on piling up on Juventus, they will have to keep winning which surely looks like the “Italian Job�?

Player: Timo Werner

Team: RB Leipzig

Match: RB Leipzig vs SC Freiburg

21 goals and seven assists, that’s how the 24-year-old German has replied to the critics who questioned his abilities. Timo Werner has looked a lot clinical this season and couple that with his blistering pace, no wonder he schools defences on his own.

Werner already has an incredible record against Freiburg who have conceded 10 goals in nine matches against Leipzig. So, picking Werner against Freiburg on a home fixture is practically a no-brainer.

Player: Karim Benzema

Team: Real Madrid

Match: Real Madrid vs Eibar

Probably one of the most successful strikers in the history, Karim Benzema has scored 14 goals and assisted six for Los Blancos in La Liga this season as they stay on the heels of Barcelona. 

Benzema is second in the top scorers�?list in the league, six behind none other than Lionel Messi. Even in the tumultuous 2018/19 season, Benzema was the shining light for the Whites, scoring 30 goals in all competitions. The 32-year-old will be one of the most important players for his team if his manager, Zinedine Zidane wants to replicate the success of his previous stint. 

Player: Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang

Team: Arsenal

Match: Manchester City vs Arsenal

The performance of Mikel Arteta’s team has bene quite convincing so far, and the one player who has been the reason they have made a significant progress is their Gabonese forward and club captain, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. When the team is in the ninth place of the table, and he is on the top of the goal-scorers�?chart with Jamie Vardy at 17, you have to believe in the ability of the player. 

Aubameyang has been influential in Arsenal’s resurgence under Arteta and after the Xhaka episode. Arsenal are unbeaten in thier last eight Premier League this season, so when they go to Etihad Stadium to face the defending champions, Manchester City, a lot will depend on Aubameyang. 

Judging by the fact that it is only an eight-point gap between them and the top-four spot, it won’t be fanciful if they go for the win. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oscar Del Pozo

A narrow 1-0 win over Mumbai City FC away from home on Friday confirmed Chennaiyin FC’s place in the playoffs of the 2019/20 season of the Indian Super League. With Bengaluru FC playing a 2-2 draw against ATK on Sunday, Owen Coyle’s men have a great chance of securing the third spot in the league table when they face NorthEast United in their final league stage game on Tuesday.

NorthEast United vs Chennaiyin FC:

Before Owen Coyle took over Chennaiyin FC, the team had won just one of their opening six league outings. Since his arrival, the team haven’t only won games at will, but have also scored goals for fun. He did have a tough start to his new life, losing to FC Goa and Odisha FC, but his team has since won six of their last seven games while drawing one.

Since January 10, Chennai have scored 19 goals in six games and have conceded just six. What was thought to be their utter frailty earlier this season has now become one of their major strengths.

Read | In Chennaiyin FC, Owen Coyle has taken a leap in the dark

Northeast United, on the other hand, have lost as many as eight games this season, with their last win dating way back on November 6 against Hyderabad FC. As far as their head to head count goes, NorthEast do edge forward, having won three of their last five meetings, but all that will be put to rest once the teams step onto the field on Tuesday.

Watch out for:

Nerijus Valskis: 13 goals in 17 league pretty much portrays why Chennai are on a scoring spree of late. Before the Mumbai game, Valskis had scored as many as eight goals in just six games, and with the race of winning the golden boot heating up, expect the 32-year-old Lithuanian to go all out on Tuesday against a NorthEast defence which has shipped 10 goals in their last three games.

Can Chelsea sink a Bayern ship?

Chelsea, after losing 2-0 to Manchester United, got back to winning ways on Saturday with goals from Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso helping them to a 2-0 win over Jose Moutinho’s Tottenham Hotspur. Up next for them lies a tough test against Bayern Munich, who have scored 15 goals in their last five Bundesliga games, including a 5-0 win over Schalke.

Unlike Bayern, Chelsea have endured a rather unstable run in the league, having won just one of their last five games while losing twice. Despite that poor run of form though, they have scored at least two goals on four out of five occasions. Thus, expect them to find the net at least once. 

Watch out for:

Robert Lewandowski: An absolute goal machine, Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has enjoyed a rich run of form, having scored 11 goals and two assists in his last 10 games in all competitions, including a recent brace against Paderborn. The Poland international has, in fact, been equally vicious in the Champions League and his return of 10 goals in just five games remains a worry for Frank Lampard and his defence, which has shipped eight goals in their last five league games.

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Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @ChennaiyinFC