Gameweek 8 of the Hero Indian Super League had a slow start with Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC sharing points in a 0-0 draw. ATK Mohun Bagan finally gets back to winning ways with a 2-3 win over a struggling NorthEast United side. Kerala Blasters continue their incredible run with yet another 3-0 victory, this time against Chennaiyin FC. To wrap up the week both the remaining two fixtures of Hyderabad FC versus SC East Bengal and Odisha FC versus FC Goa ended in a 1-1 draw.
Wondering who makes it to our Man’s Life Team of the Week? Let’s have a look at it!
GK: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu – Bengaluru FC
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Gurpreet Singh Sandhu finally looked like himself after struggling to find his form all season. Versus Jamshedpur, India’s #1 goalkeeper produced a masterclass with some stunning saves and was also the most accurate passer (85%) to play in the match.
RB: Harmanjot Khabra – Kerala Blasters FC
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Fullbacks have been Kerala’s secret weapon this season. With Harmanjot Khabra running up and down the right-wing, it makes the opponent’s jobs difficult both in attack as well as defense. In their 3-0 win over CFC, Khabra was exceptional in defense with losing just one duel and winning 5.
CB: Ivan Gonsalves – FC Goa
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FC Goa finally seem to be climbing up the ladder and most of that credit goes to their Spanish center-back Ivan Gonzalves who was a rock in their 1-1 draw against Odisha FC. It was his right-footed shot that flew into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
CB: Hormipam R – Kerala Blasters FC
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Joining Gonzalves in defense is yet another KBFC player, Hormipam R. The 20-year-old center-back showed real maturity in defense and made a total of 11 clearances, won 6 duels, and made 11 recovery runs (the most in the match).
LB: Subhasish Bose – ATK Mohun Bagan
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Filling in the left-back position is ATK Mohun Bagan’s Subhasish Bose whose name has been on the scoresheet almost every week. It was his delivery from the left flank that landed straight to Hugo Bousmos to score his first in the match against NorthEast United.
CM: Hugo Boumous – ATK Mohun Bagan
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A man who has been on fire this season in front of goal is Hugo Boumous of ATK Mohun Bagan. The 24-year-old Frenchman scored a brilliant brace against NEUFC, taking his season tally to five goals in seven appearances.
CM: Amir Dervisevic – SC East Bengal
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Amir Dervisevic broke the deadlock in SC East Bengal’s match against Hyderabad FC with a stunning freekick from the left side of the box which floated into the bottom left corner. The keeper got his hands to it, but the shot was just too powerful to be saved.
CM: Khawlhring Lalthathanga – Kerala Blasters FC
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The 23-year-old holding midfielder of Kerala Blasters, Khawlhring Lalthathanga displayed one of his best performances against Chennaiyin FC. The midfielder left the pitch as the most accurate passer (88%) and an assist to Jorge Pereyra to break the deadlock.
LW: Liston Colaco – ATK Mohun Bagan
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After a couple of poor run of games, Liston Colaco was back at his best in ATK Mohun Bagan’s match against NorthEast United. The winger completed the most number of dribbles (4) in the match and took a total of seven shots. It was his header that helped ATK equalize and turn the game around.
RW: Sahal Samad – Kerala Blasters FC
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For a second week running, the 24-year-old Salah Samad of Kerala Blasters FC makes it to our team of the week and there is no doubt in why he’s being picked up. The winger found himself on the scoresheet yet again taking his overall tally to four goals in 8 appearances this season.
ST: Bartholomew Ogbeche – Hyderabad FC
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The only Hyderabad FC player to make it to our TOTW is Bartholomew Ogbeche. The 37-year-old striker shows 0 signs of slowing down as he found himself on the scoresheet yet again making him the current top scorer of the Hero Indian Super League.
Manager of the Week: Juan Fernando – ATK Mohun Bagan
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In the initial half of the season, Juan Fernando was struggling with FC Goa and after Antonio Habbas stepped down as ATK Mohun Bagan’s head coach, Fernando took on the opportunity and finally brought all three points home for the Mariners after a 4 match winless streak making him our Manager of the Week for game week 8.
[Featured Image Credit: ISL – Indian Super League]
Shashank Iyer