ISL 2017/18: Best Forwards of the final week of the league stage

We look at some of the best performances of the week in the Indian Super League.

The league stages of the ISL came to an end with FC Goa easing past Jamshedpur FC in a must-win match to secure their place in the semi-finals. There were confidence-boosting wins for Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC, while ATK avoided the wooden spoon after defeating NorthEast United.

In this article, we look at 5 forwards whose performances stood out among the rest!

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#5 Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane scored against NorthEast United helping ATK avoid the wooden spoon. The experienced forward has scored each of the last 4 goals that ATK have managed.The former Republic of Ireland international has scored 6 goals in 6 matches in which he has completed 90 minutes.

Keane’s fitness issues were one of the big reasons for ATK’s dreadful performance in front of goal. The 38-year-old finished the ISL 2017/18 campaign as ATK’s top scorer with 6 goals in a season where none of their players managed more than 2 goals. His form is a big boost to ATK for their Super Cup hopes.

#4 Emiliano Alfaro

Emiliano Alfaro scored a brace in FC Pune City’s last league match against in-form Delhi Dynamos. The former NorthEast United forward has contributed 9 goals and has become the top scorer for the Stallions.

Alfaro worked hard upfront holding the ball for Pune’s midfielders to join the attack. Alfaro’s biggest quality is his efficiency; despite attempting just 28 shots he has scored 9 goals at a goal conversion rate of 32%. If FC Pune City are to make an impact in their first-ever ISL semi-finals, Alfaro has to fire.

#3 Miku

Miku scored for the third consecutive match helping Bengaluru FC emerge 2-0 against Kerala Blasters in the Southern Derby. The former Rayo Vallecano forward has now scored 14 goals and is the second highest scorer of ISL 2017/18.

The Venezuelan striker displayed skill, work rate and lethal finishing by powering a low finish from a tight angle past former Manchester goalkeeper Paul Rachubka. Miku as always also worked hard. The 32-year-old’s fine form is good news for Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Rocha going into the semi-finals where their opponents FC Pune City boast a tight defence.

#2 Kalu Uche

Kalu Uche is in red-hot form having scored 9 goals in his last 7 matches Kalu Uche scored a brace against semi-finalists FC Pune City helping Delhi Dynamos end the campaign on a six-match unbeaten run. Unfortunately for Delhi Dynamos it has come at a time when they were playing for only for pride rather than for a place in the semi-finals

The Delhi Captain used his physicality to a good effect holding the ball and bringing others into play. The 35-year-old’s movement and intelligence meant that FC Pune City’s defence had a tough time against the former Levante striker. He has now scored 13 goals and is the third highest scorer of ISL 2017/18.

#1 Ferran Corominas

Corominas, after a lean patch, roared back into form scoring 5 goals in the three must-win matches for FC Goa. His superb form helped take FC Goa into the semi-finals which at one point looked difficult given the loss of form of both Corominas and FC Goa.

The former Espanyol forward has now scored 18 goals which is the highest in an ISL season and has contributed an astonishing 23 goals so far including 5 assists which is more than 3 teams in ISL 2017/18. The diminutive forward is averaging a goal every 86 minutes. The 35-year-old has a goal conversion rate of 41% highlighting his lethal finishing.