rewrite this title ISL Musings: Blasters fragility costs Stahre, Bengaluru lose ground to Bagan machine

The Indian Super League matchweek seemed to fly past us and has thrown up some interesting results: Mohun Bagan Mohun Bagan-ing along in style, Kerala Blasters Kerala Blaster-ing spectacularly, Goa playing out a thriller with Bengaluru, East Bengal getting in trouble with officialdom again, and Chennaiyin finding some form again.

We muse, on ISL’s matchweek 12:

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BFC battle hard but lose ground to the Bagan machine

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At 0-2 down against FC Goa, it looked like that would be it for Bengaluru FC. Up against a team that smashed them 3-0 at the Fatorda, they looked down and out. But a late resurgence, fuelled by a loud Kanteerava stadium and the incessant running of Ryan Williams and Jorge Pereyra Diaz saw them seize a point.

It seemed a great point when later that evening Kerala Blasters went 2-1 up away at leaders Mohun Bagan — but this Bagan machine scored twice in the dying minutes (86th and 95th) to take the win and go two clear with a game in hand… from a point gained, it now feels like two dropped for BFC.

Blasters fragility costs Mikael Stahre

Speaking of dropped points, Kerala Blasters… sigh. At 2-1 up in Kolkata, they looked comfortable, but when the time comes to close out games, they seem to fail repeatedly this season. They have now dropped 13 points across seven games where they either took the lead or drew level at some point. Considering they have played only 12 games and gained just 11 points, that’s a terrible stat.

“Fragile,” their now ex-coach Mikael Stahre called them after dropping a point (at least) at BFC last week, and the management seemingly concluded that course correction was not something Stahre could do. With much left to salvage this season, and fan discontent near all-time highs, it will be interesting to see who they go for now. Whoever it is, addressing this “fragility” will be task no. 1.

Chennaiyin go 3 at the back and finally get 3 points

Four games without a win, and Owen Coyle knew something had to give. And give it did… Coyle went three at the back with two up top against Hyderabad, and the move paid off almost immediately. Irfan Yadwad, pushed central from the flanks, finished smartly to give Chennaiyin the lead in the fifth minute: a lead they didn’t relinquish. Their season was in real danger of stagnating, but has this formation tweak breathed fresh life into their campaign?

This shouldn’t have to be said, but… racism is not okay

The turning point of a tight East Bengal – Odisha came around in the 43rd minute when Jeakson Singh was adjudged to have elbowed Diego Mauricio and was given a second yellow. ‘Adjudged’ being key here, because there was nothing in it: and if the referee had seen the incident up close it’d have been a yellow for simulation to Mauricio.

Given that, it’s understandable that fans would not be best pleased with Mauricio. What’s not understandable (or excusable) is the alleged racist taunts hurled at him. Post the match, Odisha FC posted about the abuse on their social handles, expressing support and the comments section indicated there was little sympathy for the cause. And therein lies the problem: for whatever the cause for the perceived anger is, there are no two ways about it – racism is not okay.

Call out the supposed play-acting, seek rule changes to try and stop it, but there really is no defence for racist taunts. Never was, never will be.

P.S. Playacting is an issue. With VAR still seemingly far away, perhaps the AIFF disciplinary panel — which reviews violent conduct and serious foul play — can bring this under their ambit. Simulation with consequences (like this Jeakson red) ought to attract consequences of their own.

Javier Siverio comes to the party

Here are Javi Siverio’s stats for ISL’s league phase over the past three seasons: 6 (20 matches), 5 (20), 3 (18). Not a prolific striker, then. Why has he been in the ISL for four seasons now? Because as a second striker he adds balance to the team and enables more prolific players around him to thrive.

The trouble is, in this current iteration of Jamshedpur FC, he’s the one who’s supposed to be prolific. One goal in the opening nine matches seemed to indicate he still wasn’t the man for that job — but the last two games have seen him score thrice.

Against a miserly Punjab FC defence, he was a constant thorn and scored the two goals that led Jamshedpur to a 2-1 victory. The finishes were well taken, poacher-like, and clinical: just the kind of goals he needs to score more of. He’s on four now, and with half the season left will be looking to notch up a career-best figure.

That win now takes Jamshedpur level on points with Punjab (but they are 6th, behind on GD) and if Siverio’s fine form continues… they will be ones to watch out for.

City don’t look convincing, even when they win

A 1-0 win against Mohammedan Sporting gave Mumbai City a much-needed dose of three points, but the performance did little to allay fears that City are nowhere close to the force they have been over the past few seasons. Especially considering it came against a team that were down to 10 men in the 35th minute of the match.

City’s best chances came when the Mohammedan keeper passed/punched it straight to them (Vikram Pratap Singh scored, Lallianzuala Chhangte missed) and their open play xG was a poor 0.58 against a 10-man outfit chasing a point for most of the second half.

With sides around the playoff spots improving, City will need to step up their game considerably in the back half of the season to make it there — let alone defend that hard-won ISL trophy.