Tag: isl 2020-21

ISL 2020-21: Down to the Wire! ISL Shield Winner and Final Semifinalist to be Decided Today

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


This edition of the Indian Super League was one of a kind as this season witnessed the most number of teams participate in the league and hence, the most number of games played. This season also saw at least four teams fight for the last two playoff spots and ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC involved in their own fight to cement the top spot and AFC Champions League group stage qualification. The seventh edition of the ISL has been so competitive that on the last day of the group stages two things will be confirmed. Firstly, who will become the ISL shield winner and secondly, who will be the last team to qualify for the playoffs.

ISL 2020-21 FULL COVERAGE |  ISL 2020-21 SCHEDULE  | ISL 2020-21 POINTS TABLE

RACE FOR TOP 4: FC GOA vs HYDERABAD FC

FC Goa and Hyderabad FC will kick-off the proceedings as they face each other at the Fatorda Stadium in the first match of the day and those 90 odd minutes will decide the fate of both clubs who have stayed in the reckoning all season.

HOW CAN FC GOA QUALIFY?

(Photo Credit: ISL)

PLAYED: 19

WON: 7

DRAWN: 9

LOST: 3

POINTS: 30

The Gaurs are in the pole position to finish in the top four as they need just a point to qualify for the playoffs. Juan Ferrando’s team have had a mixed-bag season of sorts. They have been one of the most feared sides in the competition and their habit of scoring late in games have grabbed crucial points. Right now, they are on a 12-match unbeaten streak, however, if you dig deep, they have drawn seven of those 12 games. Fortunately for them, even a draw would confirm their berth in the knockout stages. A draw would take them to 31 points and leave Hyderabad with 29.

HOW CAN HYDERABAD FC QUALIFY?

(Photo Credit: ISL)

PLAYED: 19

WON: 6

DRAWN: 10

LOST: 3

POINTS: 28

Hyderabad FC has been one of the surprise packages of this season. After finishing second from bottom last year, the Nizams have taken huge strides and they have played some eye-catching football under Manolo Marquez. Now in the do or die match, they’ll have to address the only concern they had throughout the season, failing to convert draws into victories. Akash Mishra and co. need a win to qualify.  With 28 points in their tally, they need the three points to topple FC Goa who have 30 points in their bag.

FIGHT FOR ISL SHIELD: MUMBAI CITY FC VS ATK MOHUN BAGAN

The battle between Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan has been one of the highlights of this season. Both these teams were for the most part of the time in a different league than others. These two teams are the only teams to have won more than 50% of their games. Now, they will battle it out between themselves to determine who has the last laugh.

HOW CAN MUMBAI CITY FC WIN THE SHIELD?

(Photo Credit: ISL)

PLAYED: 19

WON: 11

DRAWN: 4

LOST: 4

POINTS: 37

After leading the league table for the most part of the season, winning 12 games in a row, they lost to NorthEast United FC and since then they have won just two games, drew one and lost two. This gave ATK Mohun Bagan the opportunity to catch them in the points table. Now, the Islanders head into the final game of the season with 37 points, which is three less than top-placed ATKMB. So, nothing less than a win would do for Sergio Lobera’s men to claim the ISL Shield. If they win, they’ll be level on points with ATKMB and they will win the Shield as according to the ISL rules, ‘if two or more Clubs are equal on points then their place shall be determined by the Most number of points obtained in the league matches between the clubs concerned’. MCFC won the previous leg 1-0. However, it won’t be an easy task as ATK Mohun Bagan are unbeaten in their last six matches and have netted 15 goals and conceded just six during this run.

HOW CAN ATK MOHUN BAGAN WIN THE SHIELD?

(Photo Credit: ISL)

PLAYED: 19

WON: 12

DRAWN: 4

LOST: 3

POINTS: 40

Well, it is rather simple for Antonio Habas’ men, all they have to do is avoid a defeat in the last game of the ISL group stages. If ATKMB manage to do that, they would also record the highest points tally in the ISL league phase.



[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

ISL 2020-21: Bipin Singh Hat-trick Helps Mumbai City FC Crush Odisha FC, Take ISL Shield Battle to Last Day

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


The equation for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 Shield is clear. A win for Mumbai City FC in their final game against ATK Mohun Bagan will help them seal the top of the table spot and with it, a spot in next season’s AFC Champions League group stage. Anything else and it will be Bagan celebrating. After the Kolkata side failed to grasp their chance to win the League Sheild against Hyderabad FC, Mumbai completed the other side of the equation at the GMC Stadium on Wednesday, with a dominant 6-1 victory over Odisha FC. After Odisha had taken a shock early lead through Diego Mauricio (9′), Mumbai hit back hard through goals from Bartholomew Ogbeche (14′, 43′), Bipin Singh (38′, 47′, 86) and Cy Goddard (44′). The match was the highest-scoring game of the season and Mumbai had the biggest-winning margin yet. The timely return to form ended a three-game winless run for Sergio Lobera’s side.

Yet, when the match started, it appeared as if Mumbai would continue their wretched form. Early on, Odisha were awarded a penalty when Ahmed Jahouh fouled Mauricio in the box. The latter stepped up and ensured that Odisha had an unlikely lead, despite Amrinder getting a hand to the ball.

ISL 2020-21 FULL COVERAGE |  ISL 2020-21 SCHEDULE  | ISL 2020-21 POINTS TABLE

But Mumbai weren’t behind for long. Just five minutes later, Jahouh made amends for his mistake by finding Ogbeche off a freekick. The Nigerian made no mistake, heading it in and restoring parity.

Odisha put up quite a fight over the next twenty minutes as Mumbai struggled to convert their dominance into clear-cut chances. But once the goal came, the floodgates opened. Mumbai’s second had an element of luck to it. After Ogbeche’s shot was blocked, the ball fell kindly for Bipin, who made no mistake from his shot. Then, just five minutes later, Mumbai struck again, putting the result of the match beyond doubt. Jahouh and Ogbeche once again combined with the latter finding the striker off yet another freekick. Once again, the big Nigerian made no mistake, heading it in.

If Odisha interim coach Steven Dias had a tough half-time talk on his hands, it was about to get a lot worse. With just seconds to go before the half-time whistle, Goddard found the net with a peach of a goal. After receiving the ball on the right, the youngster cut inside and fired in a shot that gave Odisha keeper Arshdeep Singh no chance.

Just in case, Odisha had any hopes of a comeback, Mumbai were quick to snuff them out. Just two minutes after the restart, Bipin found the net again, Ogbeche turning provider this time. The goal prompted Lobera to give his main stars a break, with the likes of Adam Le Fondre and Mourtada Fall being subbed off. Ogbeche too joined them on the bench later. That took the edge off the game, but there was still time for Bipin to find his hattrick – the first of the season – with just minutes left for the final whistle.



[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , ,