East Bengal scored five against minnows Minerva Punjab in round five of the 2017 I-League to power themselves to the top of the table, where they sit level on points with their bitter rivals Mohun Bagan, ahead on goal difference.
It proved to be crucial in a round where their two closest rivals suffered setbacks, in the process allowing them to take full advantage. Here we look at the players that made the team of the round through their fantastic performances.
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Also read: I-League 2017: Five Talking Points from Round 5
There were goals aplenty in this round with plenty of forwards playing starring roles, so we go with a 3-4-3 formation.
GK: Debjit Majumder (Mohun Bagan)
Bagan could only muster a point from their pre-Republic Day visit to DSK Shivajians after a 0-0 draw. Despite upping the tempo and going close to breaking the deadlock in the second half, the Mariners looked sluggish for much of the match and Shivajians were the better side for the most part.
That they entered the second half still having not conceded can be attributed to some fine work from Debjit, who once more produced a fine display between the sticks. Coming off his line quickly to intercept some dangerous attacks as well as making fine saves to deny Shivajians forwards Kim Song-Yeong and Lallianzuala Chhangte, Debjit proved to be a key reason why his team went into half-time, level.
Defence
DF: Nirmal Chettri (Shivajians)
In that same game, one of the reasons Bagan were kept quiet, was because their most dangerous weapon in Sony Norde was shut down by the indefatigable Nirmal Chettri. The India international used his traditional strengths - positioning and speed to make up lost yards, and discipline - to keep the dangerous Haitian in his pocket all evening, enabling his side to get a grip on the match defensively and not allow Bagan to threaten at will.
He made Norde change his game and that's when Nirmal knew that the battle was won.
DF: Haroon Amiri (Chennai City)
The Afghan-international was described by his club's coach, Robin Charles Raja, as a "defensive utility player." Yet, when he had to move to centre-back in Chennai's previous game halfway through, due to injury to seasoned veteran Dharmaraj Ravanan, it was a big step.
Amiri did well in that game and started Chennai's latest game against Aizawl in that position and was fantastic once again. This forced move seems to have worked out well for the new boys as Amiri's excellent reading of the game coupled with his quickness on the ground has kept the defence alert.
Despite not being a strapping lad, he is a powerful header of the ball and is able to deal with aerial threats very well. He also has the ability to play the ball out of defence instead of just hacking it away.
DF: Narayan Das (East Bengal)
East Bengal ran riot against minnows Minerva and while the forward line enjoyed the spoils in terms of goals, they had the guys behind them to thank for the excellent supply all game. Das, in particular, was quite brilliant, providing some very good crosses throughout the match for his forwards to attack.
The danger he posed bombing forward meant that the forwards could all crowd the box, knowing that their teammates would take care of creating the chances.
Midfield
MF: Chesterpoul Lyngdoh (Churchill Brothers)
A Lyngdoh did indeed dazzle in this game except it wasn't the one who was fancied. It was Chesterpoul, not Eugeneson, who turned out to be the hero of this game as his star turn, an assist and a goal, helped his Churchill Brothers side turn a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 victory over defending champions Bengaluru FC, in what was the shock result of the round.
Chesterpoul provided the long overhead which Anthony Wolfe managed to latch onto for the equaliser and saw the favour returned when Wolfe fed him a through pass to which he applied a delightful first-touch finish. Some way to get your first win of the season!
MF: Issac Vanmalsawma (Shillong Lajong)
His teammate grabbed a brace (more on that later), but Issac was the string-puller-in-chief in Shillong Lajong's impressive 3-1 win at home against Mumbai FC. In what was a battle of the shaky defences, Issac and his side were able to take advantage of their opponent's vulnerability, delivering an important three points.
Issac provided the assist for the opener and was very good throughout in his delivery into the box, especially from set pieces.
MF: Thoi Singh (Mumbai FC)
The Manipur man continues to play well for his side even if the results aren't forthcoming. Despite the 1-3 defeat to Shillong, Thoi makes this list because he was quite simply very good. If only his teammates had been a little better in converting one of the numerous chances he set up for them, Thoi would have had assists to show for, and his side, some points.
MF: Juan Quero Barrasso (Shivajians)
This little pocket dynamo has been a key member of this Shivajians outfit, as much of Dave Rogers' attacking schemes seem to stem through him. The Spaniard is technically very good, with a knack for knocking in good crosses.
He's also not afraid to run at defenders while breaking at speed. This counter-attacking approach kept the Bagan defence on its toes and they were seriously troubled by the inroads the Spaniard was able to make into their third.
Attack
FW: Marcus 'Tank' Vinicius (Chennai City)
The Brazilian forward scored his second goal in as many games to help propel his side to their first ever I-League win by beating the previously undefeated Aizawl FC 2-0. Tank's ability to turn his defender with his back to goal and run at the defence helped Chennai open the game up, creating space against a Khalid Jamil side that had been defensively stellar thus far.
His goal in itself was a fantastic strike with power and precision, one that gave the keeper no chance.
FW: Asier Pierrick Dipanda Dicka (Shillong Lajong)
Home is said to be comforting and nowhere is it ringing truer at the moment than in Shillong. Ever since Shillong Lajong returned home after playing their first three games on the road, victory has been theirs.
The team and their main forward, Dipanda, have both found their feet and after scoring in the win against Minerva, Dipanda scored a brace against Mumbai to make it three goals in two games. The seasoned Cameroon pro took both his goals differently as well, one a header after getting away from his marker, the other a neat finish past the keeper from a one-on-one situation.
FW: Wedson Anselme (East Bengal)
While Dipanda has three goals in two games, Anselme grabbed a hat-trick in his side's thrashing of Minerva. The floodgates did open up once East Bengal scored their first and Anselme made the most of it scoring three out of his side's five.
Now to those asking why only two East Bengal players made this XI despite them looking the strongest team in the round, it's because no East Bengal player really had a great game, largely due to Minerva's own struggles.
Once the opening goal went in, the Kolkata giants were all over the minnows, who just had no defence against a side much too powerful to contain. Anselme was the best of the Red and Yellow and he deservedly headlines this round's XI.
