Joao Victor Albuquerque Bruno of Hyderabad FC and Eli Sabia of Jamshedpur FC in action during match 15 of season 8 of HERO INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE played between Jamshedpur FC and Hyderabad FC at the GMC Bambolim stadium in Goa, India, on 02nd December 2021.
Photo: R. Parthibhan/Focus Sports/ ISL Hyderabad has risen to the beat of the ISL table; Jamshedpur is edging closer to a put within the AFC.
Scenarios for ISL
An Indian Super League season marred by covid cases at various points is coming to a close, with four teams vying to win the league’s group stage and qualify for the AFC Champions League. The likes of Hyderabad FC, Jamshedpur FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, and also Kerala Blasters are all contenders for continental titles. With the exception of ATKMB, every other team on the list is a complete surprise at this point in the season. Last year’s champions, Mumbai City FC, are just outside the playoff picture, while FC Goa has experienced a year of upheaval following nearly four years of consistent success. Hyderabad has risen to the beat of the ISL table; Jamshedpur is edging closer to a put within the AFC.
Due to a rash of injuries to both foreign and Indian players last season, Hyderabad FC was forced to rely on their young Indian players to fill the void. They almost made it to the ISL playoffs, and five of their players were selected for the national camp after last year’s league campaign.
Manolo Marquez has scored a lot of goals this season, thanks to the addition of Bartholomew Ogbeche to an already young core. Ogbeche was a bench warmer for Mumbai last season, coming in and scoring goals at will as Adam le Fondre struggled to make an impact. This year, though, Ogbeche has landed the leading role he so rightfully deserves, and he leads all clubs in scoring.
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In 17 games, Hyderabad has 32 points, winning nine, drawing five, and losing three while scoring 39 goals. Averaging nearly two goals per game has transformed a youthful club; with promise into one of the strongest contenders for a place in next year’s Champions League.
They have control over their own destiny.
When it comes to entering the playoffs and then always failing to do so; no club in the Indian Super League comes close to Jamshedpur. They missed out on a Top 4 position by four points last season. They came agonizingly close in the 2018-19 season, but fell short by two points. Jamshedpur’s season has been marred by playoff disappointments. What’s different this time around?
There isn’t much. The numbers in Jamshedpur can be deceiving. They rank dead lowest in the league in terms of total passes made and amount of touches on the ball. They have 30 goals and 18 goals conceded in 16 games; but they are only in second place since both Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan have conceded a lot of goals.
The city of Bagan is included in the mix. Bagan, who have played the same number of games as Jamshedpur; are a point behind them and have the potential to turn the course of the league if they defeat JFC. Despite possessing one of the best squads in the league, Bagan’s season has been anything from smooth. After a strong start, Antonio Habas, the ISL’s most effective coach, was fired after a run of bad luck. After a brief spell with FC Goa, Juan Ferrando joined Bagan. Under Habas, ATKMB was a team that passed small and took fewer touches than others; relying on Roy Krishna’s arduous lifting to get them over the line.
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Ferrando has already altered that part of the Kolkata club; causing them to hold possession of the ball for extended periods of time. They’ve beaten Hyderabad FC, NorthEast United FC, FC Goa; and drew with a 10-man Kerala Blasters club in their last four games. Form is on their side, and any blunder by Jamshedpur might hand the keys back to ATKMB.
A well-earned playoff berth.
It’s unusual to be talking about Kerala Blasters as a contender this late in the season; but Ivan Vukomanovic’s team has been one of the biggest surprises of the league. Kerala will need a lot of luck to win the league at this stage; as they are five points behind league leaders Hyderabad and three points behind ATKMB.
The Serbian’s emphasis on having a strong base to work from has benefited Vukomanovic’s team. This league could have been theirs for the taking if the squad had signed an Ogbeche-like striker. They have four games left: Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, and Goa – making it exceedingly unlikely; but not impossible, that they will take the lead.
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