ISL 2023-24 Season Matchweek 2: The Hits, Misses, and ISL Fantasy Strategy for Matchweek 3

by FC Admin October 4, 2023

FC Goa wrapped up the second matchweek of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 with a 1-0 victory over Punjab FC in Fatorda on Monday, October 02.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, NorthEast United FC, East Bengal FC, and Kerala Blasters FC secured victories in the week gone by whereas Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC played out a gruelling 2-2 draw in Bhubaneswar. Here are some of the highlights from the week that passed by.

Hits & Misses

Mohun Bagan Super Giant 1 – 0 Bengaluru FC

Hit: Hugo Boumous opened his account for the season with a timely strike in the 67th minute to hand the Mariners the crucial winner. Jason Cummings delivered a slick assist with the Australian having adapted immediately to the ISL, having already scored and set up a goal each in two appearances.

Miss: Bengaluru ended the game with nine players as Suresh Singh Wangjam and Naorem Roshan Singh were sent off. The on-field numerical disadvantage certainly hampered their prospects of securing an equaliser late in the game.

Odisha FC 2 – 2 Mumbai City FC

Hit: Jerry Mawihmingthanga netted in his second successive game to mark a remarkable start of the season with Odisha FC. The winger has shown impressive goal-scoring awareness with a tendency of getting to the right spot at the right time with the Juggernauts reaping the rewards of the same so far.

Miss: Mumbai’s goalkeeper Mohammed Nawaz didn’t have the best outing as he was faulted with both of Odisha’s goals and head coach Des Buckingham will expect greater assurance from the custodian going ahead in the campaign.

NorthEast United FC 3 – 0 Chennaiyin FC

Hit: The Highlanders’ young brigade came to the fore to hand them a convincing victory at home against Chennaiyin FC. Parthib Gogoi, Phalguni Singh, and Asheer Akhtar scored one each, to give a proper testament of the beaming potential amongst the club’s domestic contingent.

Miss: Two games into the season, Owen Coyle has been unable to impart his strategies into Chennaiyin FC. Their attack lacked cohesion and that reflected in their lowly shots on target that they attempted in the game.

East Bengal FC 2 – 1 Hyderabad FC

Hit: Brazilian forward Cleiton Silva was the star of the night with a fantastic free-kick at the cusp of the full-time whistle to secure East Bengal FC’s first win of the season. Silva bagged a brace in the game and looks set to replicate his heroics from the previous season this time around as well.

Miss: Hyderabad held 51% possession but they couldn’t convert going forward as they could take only four shots in the game vis-à-vis East Bengal’s 13. The team will have to bring about greater stealth in their offensive endeavours to enhance goal-scoring opportunities in the forthcoming fixtures.

Kerala Blasters FC 1 – 0 Jamshedpur FC

Hit: Kerala’s skipper Adrian Luna was at the forefront of their victory against Jamshedpur FC, netting in the 74th minute amidst a flawless attacking move initiated by the duo of Daisuke Sakai and Dimitrios Diamantakos. Luna has notched a goal each in both of the Blasters’ games and perhaps set a tone of what to expect from the team in the rest of the season as well.

Miss: Jamshedpur demonstrated potential moving forward but the final touch in front of the goal was missing from their end. The likes of Alen Stevanovic, Seiminlen Doungel, and Jeremy Monzorro had straightforward opportunities to draw the first blood but all of them squandered those chances as the team succumbed to its first loss of the season.

FC Goa 1 – 0 Punjab FC

Hit: FC Goa’s record of acquiring incredible foreign talents stands true as their new Spanish striker Carlos Martinez bagged a goal in the 17th minute to secure the Gaurs three points against the ISL debutants.

Miss: Punjab FC are not creating enough concrete chances in the final third and Luka Majcen might require more support from his fellow forwards for them to add some points in their tally in the coming games.

Matchweek 3 – Preview

The third matchweek will commence with Carles Cuadrat’s emotional homecoming in Bengaluru to take on the Blues with his new club East Bengal FC. That will be followed by Jamshedpur FC hosting Hyderabad FC on October 5. Punjab FC will play their first home game of the season against NorthEast United FC the next day whereas Sergio Lobera will return to Fatorda at the helm of Odisha FC to take on FC Goa on October 7. The double header on Saturday will wrap up with a match between the Mariners and Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC will play in their home turf against the Kerala Blasters on October 8. 

ISL Fantasy – Roundup

Highest Points: 72

Average points: 40.5

Top Point Scorers Matchweek 2

Asheer Akhtar: 11 (NEUFC)

Cleiton Silva: 10 (EBFC)

Hugo Boumous: 8 (MBSG)

Phalguni Singh: 8 (NEUFC)

Adrian Luna: 8 (KBFC)

Fantasy stats MW2

Raynier Fernandes (7Cr) created 3 chances and 1 assist this match week, the joint most by any player. 

Roshan (5.3Cr) from BFC is someone Fantasy fans should keep an eye on once he completes his suspension. He has been playing on the wing. He has created 5 chances in 2 games- Potential to be a huge asset going forward

Pereyra Diaz (9.2Cr) is currently averaging 0.8G/90 and taking 3 shots/90. 

Matchweek 3 ones to watch:

Subhasish (MBSG)

Jerry (OFC)

Nestor (NEUFC)

Brandon (FCG)

If not registered already, fans can participate in the overall league or club-based leagues based on their preferences.  create private leagues, inviting friends and fellow football aficionados to compete. Prizes include a Sony PlayStation®️5 gaming console, EA Sports FC 24, signed club merchandise, and a Gift Card worth INR 20,000, will be awarded to 100 winners at the end of the season. Sign up at:  https://fantasy.indiansuperleague.com/

Also Read: Matchweek 3 Preview: Carles Cuadrat readies for a homecoming against his former club as an inspired East Bengal FC takes on Bengaluru FC

Also Read: West Bengal, Mizoram and Sikkim schools win big on Day 2 of Subroto Cup Sub Junior Boys (U 14)

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