Indian Super League (ISL) Football match updates, predictions and discussions

[AjithBtc]

Now all the teams have completed 7 matches each, and as expected the strongest two teams are on top (ATK and Bengaluru FC). At the bottom we have the three weakest teams - Kerala Blasters FC, Chennaiyin FC and Hyderabad FC. During their last match, Chennaiyin had a very good chance of getting 3 points, but they allowed Jamshedpur to equalize with just 1 minute to spare. 

This is what happening with Chennai over the last two matches. When it comes to Kerala Blasters, the same. In most matches kerala makes the first goal and further their game goes down. This way they've lost few, else could've gone little above in the points table. Kerala lost its fans support at some point, as there is continuous disappointment at the end.

[Sithara007]

Now all the teams have completed 7 matches each, and as expected the strongest two teams are on top (ATK and Bengaluru FC). At the bottom we have the three weakest teams - Kerala Blasters FC, Chennaiyin FC and Hyderabad FC. During their last match, Chennaiyin had a very good chance of getting 3 points, but they allowed Jamshedpur to equalize with just 1 minute to spare. 

This is what happening with Chennai over the last two matches. When it comes to Kerala Blasters, the same. In most matches kerala makes the first goal and further their game goes down. This way they've lost few, else could've gone little above in the points table. Kerala lost its fans support at some point, as there is continuous disappointment at the end.

I remember that during last year there was a call by their fans to boycott home matches of Kerala Blasters FC. We can't blame them, as the team ended up losing several matches which they would have won. The tickets don't come cheap and the fans were left high and dry after their repeated failures. Even during the first phase of this edition, the fan response was very much muted. And now they are becoming even less interested in the matches of their team, as there is no improvement in the performance.

[AjithBtc]

Odisha continues to play good trying to be one among the top four teams. As of now it is really hard to achieve as Odisha has played eight matches and stands at the sixth position. By now remaining teams have played seven matches. This time Odisha from the first half kept its lead, Hyderabad on the other side tried the best to move up from the last position. Somehow managed to score two goals, bit they weren't able to draw the match.

[AjithBtc]

The match between Chennai and North East United has got postponed without further announcement of the match date. The political tension out of a new bill that's been passed in the upper and lower house of the parliament is the reason for the same. The citizens bill has led to the protest, compared to remaining states of the country Assam people seems to be affected big. This is why the protest is getting stronger with time. The ruling government just goes with their own plans without knowing the needs of the people.

[Sithara007]

The match between Chennai and North East United has got postponed without further announcement of the match date. The political tension out of a new bill that's been passed in the upper and lower house of the parliament is the reason for the same. The citizens bill has led to the protest, compared to remaining states of the country Assam people seems to be affected big. This is why the protest is getting stronger with time. The ruling government just goes with their own plans without knowing the needs of the people.

I don't think that you can really blame the government. The Citizenship Amendment Bill was there in the BJP manifesto and they got more than 50% vote in Assam. Obviously the fringe elements and illegal Bangladeshis are going to protest, but the election results from the past 5-6 years prove that the vast majority of the citizens are in favor of the CAB. Also, last time the party of the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants (AIUDF) had contested the elections after forming an alliance with the main opposition Congress party. Even then, they were unable to win a good number of seats.

[AjithBtc]

First half of the match went in a much smooth manner without any goals in the first half. Second half has begun with continuous goals from Goa and ATK, and within the first twenty minutes of the second half three goals were played. Goa on its home ground with good support leads the match with two goals. With today's win Goa has topped the points table moving ATK to the second position.

[Vishnu.Reang]

First half of the match went in a much smooth manner without any goals in the first half. Second half has begun with continuous goals from Goa and ATK, and within the first twenty minutes of the second half three goals were played. Goa on its home ground with good support leads the match with two goals. With today's win Goa has topped the points table moving ATK to the second position.

For now FC Goa will top the table with 15 points from 8 matches. But we have the Bengaluru FC vs Mumbai City match tomorrow, and in case the former wins the match then they'll top the table with 16 points. In case they loses the match, or it ends in a draw then FC Goa will remain at the top. BTW, the match between Northeast United FC and Chennaiyin FC was postponed due to the rioting in Assam.

[Sithara007]

Bengaluru FC has another chance to progress to the top, if they can beat Mumbai City FC today. Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh seems to be in good form for BFC, and they have managed to leave behind the poor performances during the first 2-3 matches this season. The defense is also looking quite strong, with Rahul Bheke and Harmanjot Singh Khabra neutralizing many of the attacks from the opponents. BFC will be having the home advantage, as the match will take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

[AjithBtc]

Bengaluru FC has another chance to progress to the top, if they can beat Mumbai City FC today. Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh seems to be in good form for BFC, and they have managed to leave behind the poor performances during the first 2-3 matches this season. The defense is also looking quite strong, with Rahul Bheke and Harmanjot Singh Khabra neutralizing many of the attacks from the opponents. BFC will be having the home advantage, as the match will take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru this time played good, but the same isn't enough to defeat Mumbai. From the beginning of the match it was Mumbai who kept the lead, but the goal from Bengaluru players Grgic kept the scores leveled. Once again the lead was taken by Mumbai with its second goal. By the end of the second half Chetri managed to take a goal and leveled the match. Mumbai was in a never give up state and placed the goal in the additional time provided winning 3-2

[AjithBtc]

The change in the points table continues, and now it is Bengaluru which has reached the top position. Losing the match on the home team is really bad for North East United team, because it is one among the team that has local audience similar to Kerala Blasters. Bengaluru has match at the 68th minute with Chhetri placing the goal.

[mich]

Jorge Costa: Mumbai City moving closer to top-four

Mumbai City head coach Jorge Costa feels his team is riding high on confidence after the win against Bengaluru FC in their last game.

https://sports.yahoo.com/jorge-costa-mumbai-city-moving-120016779.html

[AjithBtc]

Jorge Costa: Mumbai City moving closer to top-four

Mumbai City head coach Jorge Costa feels his team is riding high on confidence after the win against Bengaluru FC in their last game.

https://sports.yahoo.com/jorge-costa-mumbai-city-moving-120016779.html

The league is getting more and more interesting with each game making big change in the table. Probably this will continue till the end of the league as every team is with points that are very close to each other. In today's match there will be big fire as both teams try to make some wins for a lead in the points table.

[Vishnu.Reang]

The good news is that Bengaluru FC is still at top of the table, despite losing to Mumbai City FC. Just three days after they lost a close match to the Mumbai City, the BFC destroyed NorthEast United FC 2-0 and gained 3 points from that match. And for the first time so far in this season, the NEUFC has dropped to the bottom half of the points table. They are at the 6th position, and the only four teams (Odisha, Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin and Hyderabad) are having less points than them.

[AjithBtc]

The good news is that Bengaluru FC is still at top of the table, despite losing to Mumbai City FC. Just three days after they lost a close match to the Mumbai City, the BFC destroyed NorthEast United FC 2-0 and gained 3 points from that match. And for the first time so far in this season, the NEUFC has dropped to the bottom half of the points table. They are at the 6th position, and the only four teams (Odisha, Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin and Hyderabad) are having less points than them.

With a win against Kerala Blasters 3-1 Chennai has moved to the 8th position. From the beginning the match was full of fire as expected. In the beginning Kerala played a goal soon after Chennai made its first goal. If you go through the match statistics it was Kerala the winner, but Chennai making three goals within the first half gave them play comfortable throughout the match.

[Sithara007]

Kerala Blasters fans will be really disappointed. Now they are 9th in the points table, with just 7 points from 9 matches. So far in this season, they have won just one of their matches. Even Chennaiyin FC have moved ahead of the Blasters in the points table. We may witness another boycott campaign by the fans, who may refuse to attend the home matches of Kerala Blasters. I don't have much hope for the Blasters now, given that their next match is against a strong side (North East United FC).

[AjithBtc]

In today's game it should've been a win for Hyderabad, made two goals that are perfectly timed header from Bobo. What Kamal did is really wrong, he didn't performed the clearance in the right way and the same ball is simply chipped by Roy Krishna making it a goal and leveling 2-2. In my view the wrong decision from referee on penalties has made Hyderabad end the match with a draw which is supposed to be a win.

[Sithara007]

In today's game it should've been a win for Hyderabad, made two goals that are perfectly timed header from Bobo. What Kamal did is really wrong, he didn't performed the clearance in the right way and the same ball is simply chipped by Roy Krishna making it a goal and leveling 2-2. In my view the wrong decision from referee on penalties has made Hyderabad end the match with a draw which is supposed to be a win.

Well... hard luck for Hyderabad. A win might have helped them to avoid the humiliation of being the bottom ranked side. But as of now, they have just 5 points from 9 matches and will remain at the bottom of the points table. BTW, does anyone has any information regarding the NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC match, which was postponed? The situation in NE is still not normalized and I am afraid that the match will be called off and both the teams will be forced to share the points.

[AjithBtc]

In today's game it should've been a win for Hyderabad, made two goals that are perfectly timed header from Bobo. What Kamal did is really wrong, he didn't performed the clearance in the right way and the same ball is simply chipped by Roy Krishna making it a goal and leveling 2-2. In my view the wrong decision from referee on penalties has made Hyderabad end the match with a draw which is supposed to be a win.

Well... hard luck for Hyderabad. A win might have helped them to avoid the humiliation of being the bottom ranked side. But as of now, they have just 5 points from 9 matches and will remain at the bottom of the points table. BTW, does anyone has any information regarding the NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC match, which was postponed? The situation in NE is still not normalized and I am afraid that the match will be called off and both the teams will be forced to share the points.

There is no schedule for the match. As there is more time for the league to get the end scheduling might have been delayed. There is very less chances for the match to get called off. If this was to be called off, information might have been shared on day of the match itself. Today's match it was Goa who won 3-0 against Odisha and topped the table once again. Odisha played, but weren't able to make a goal till the end.

[Sithara007]

In today's game it should've been a win for Hyderabad, made two goals that are perfectly timed header from Bobo. What Kamal did is really wrong, he didn't performed the clearance in the right way and the same ball is simply chipped by Roy Krishna making it a goal and leveling 2-2. In my view the wrong decision from referee on penalties has made Hyderabad end the match with a draw which is supposed to be a win.

Well... hard luck for Hyderabad. A win might have helped them to avoid the humiliation of being the bottom ranked side. But as of now, they have just 5 points from 9 matches and will remain at the bottom of the points table. BTW, does anyone has any information regarding the NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC match, which was postponed? The situation in NE is still not normalized and I am afraid that the match will be called off and both the teams will be forced to share the points.

There is no schedule for the match. As there is more time for the league to get the end scheduling might have been delayed. There is very less chances for the match to get called off. If this was to be called off, information might have been shared on day of the match itself. Today's match it was Goa who won 3-0 against Odisha and topped the table once again. Odisha played, but weren't able to make a goal till the end.

The 9th round is complete now and Goa is on top with 18 points from 9 matches. FC Goa is on a winning spree with three wins from the last three matches. BFC and ATK are close behind with 16 and 15 points respectively. The next match on the Christmas day (25th December) is going to be an exciting one, in which BFC will take on ATK (the 2nd and 3rd placed teams right now). A win is a must for these teams, if they want to topple FCG from the top of the table. For ATK, the Fijian player Roy Krishna has scored 8 goals so far in this season.

[Vishnu.Reang]

^^^^ BFC needs to win that match against ATK. They are the current champions and they need to cement their place at the top of the table. ATK is a shadow of their former self, and with players such as Sunil Chhetri and Rahul Bheke, BFC has an advantage over their rivals from Kolkata. BTW, as per the available stats, the Kerala Blasters still have the maximum crows attendance among all the teams, with a mean attendance of 23,755.