5 best free-kick takers in the ISL season 2

The ball finds the player and he shows a great turn of pace, and starts accelerating towards the opposition goal. Just as he was looking for a chance to either find a teammate or shoot on goal, he gets fouled.One of the few times the sound of the whistle is actually music to the ears of the spectators. It takes special skill to hit the ball over the wall, bend it in time to get it into the goal and then finally, manage to beat the goalkeeper. This is the very reason the art must be appreciated and the artists respected.Set-pieces form an important component of the game, especially free-kicks in dangerous situations, which we have seen can change games in a matter of seconds.The saying practice makes a man perfect holds very true here. It applies to taking free-kicks too and when the practice pays off in the game, it is an added benefit and goes on to become a worthy highlight of the game.Just like the more popular leagues around the world, the ISL too has its set of free-kick masters, glimpses of which have already been at display in both editions.Here’s our pick for the top 5 dead ball specialists in ISL season 2:

#5 Eugeneson Lyngdoh

Eugeneson Lyngdoh is the best Indian free-kick taker in the ISL

The fairy tale man in Indian football, Eugeneson Lyngdoh has had an interesting journey to reach his destiny. From being an Engineering drop out to earning a place in the Bengaluru FC setup, he has seen the tough times before making it as a player.

He played a pivotal role in the JSW owned outfit’s run last season, was adjudged the Bengaluru FC Fan’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. From earning a National call-up to bagging over a crore in the ISL auction, there hasn’t been anything glorious the Indian midfielder hasn’t done in the last season.

While Lyngdoh is the lynchpin of the team, controlling the game from the centre of the park, one of his standout qualities are his free-kick abilities. He is second to none when it comes to taking set-pieces, testimony of which is his wonderful goal straight from the corner flag against JDT in the AFC Champions League qualifiers, where he bent the corner into the goal at the far post, making for a delightful finish.

Lyngdoh was a regular set-piece taker for Bengaluru FC, where he helped the team with the build up for a goal. Of his 16 assists in the season, many came through free-kicks and in a short spell, he has emerged as the best free-kick taker in the country. Such is his quality that even for a start-studded FC Pune City, you will find the 29-year-old lining up to take set-pieces.

#4 Simao Sabrosa

Simao is known for his expertise from setpieces

NorthEast United’s Portuguese recruit Simao Sabrosa is next up on the list. Known for his dribbling and set-piece skills, the former Atletico de Madrid and Espanyol star has quite a few beautifully curled in free kick goals to his credit.

Simao has played for a list of big European clubs and alongside players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo for Portugal, and though he, as a result, hasn’t been the first choice free-kick taker everywhere, it has been more of quality over quantity for Simao.

His two notable free-kicks; one for Atletico against Real in the Madrid derby and one for Besiktas stand out and speak volumes for the 35-year-old winger’s quality from setpieces. Simao has shown enough proof of his abilities as a free-kick taker and should be a regular set-piece taker in his new sojourn with NorthEast United FC.

So while we shall see Simao weave his magic on the left wing for the Highlanders, the opponents will also be wary of giving away a free-kick in the vicinity of the goal, for there is a certain Simao, who is now free from injury, hungrier than ever, waiting to curl them in.

#3 John Arne Riise

John Arne Riise is known for his thunderbolts from setpieces

Liverpool were hosting Manchester United on the 4th of November in 2001 in a Premier League encounter. United committed a foul 20 yards from goal, leading to a free-kick from a difficult angle.

Up stepped John Arne Riise, a youngster looking to make it big with the European giants. All the commentator could say was “Riiiiissseeeee; Oh goodness gracious me. It is amazing the goal is still standing. The ball rocketed into it.”

Riise then went on to become not only a Liverpool legend, but a free-kick specialist, known for his thunderbolt strikes and has taken setpieces all the clubs he played and for his national team Norway.

Such was his threat from free-kicks that the teams feared giving away free-kicks against him and the goalkeepers always went for extra protection, in case of one. But seldom did that help as Riise piled on a huge list of free-kick goals.

35 currently, the man has himself slowed down a bit, but the free-kicks haven’t lost much pace and ferocity. One such effort was on display when Delhi Dynamos were away to Sweden for their pre-season friendly against Varberg Bois.

The Dynamos were awarded a free-kick 15-20 yards from goal. Riise stepped up to take it and the result was the same; a wonderful goal for the visitors.

With Roberto Carlos in the same side and also the manager, there exists the question as to who the free-kick taker will be, but with Carlos playing sparingly, Riise is the obvious choice for the team.

And even with the player-manager on field, Riise was the one to strike the first free-kick against FC Goa. Not just an important part of their defence, he will be a threat at the other end with his set-pieces.

#2 Elano

Elano's free-kicks have been very important to Chennaiyin's attack

Belonging to a country that boasts the likes of Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Juninho amongst other free-kick specialists, and still carving a niche for himself in the free-kick department, it is certain Elano Blumer has put in heaps of hardwork on his free-kicks day in and day out.

For all the clubs that he has played for, Elano has repeatedly hit the back of the net with his curling shots. For Manchester City against Newcastle, a 30-yeard ranger for Flamnego against Emelec, to now in the ISL for Chennaiyin FC against FC Goa, the Brazilian medio has given his fans several goals to savour.

The Brazilian is known for his incisive, cutting-edge through balls and his free-kicks. In just the last ISL season, Elano scored three of his eight goals from free-kicks, the pick of the lot being the one against FC Goa, where he also scored on debut and became the first marquee player to get on the scoresheet. The other two goals came against Mumbai City FC and the Delhi Dynamos as Elano eased towards the Golden Boot Award.

#1 Roberto Carlos

The Brazilian's rocket free-kicks keep him at the top of our list

It is not just the ISL where the Brazilian legend is topping the free-kick takers chart, but he has been right up there with the best in the business in world football. Contrary to the mainstream, traditional free-kick technique of curling the ball in, Roberto Carlos relied on brute power and swerve to slot it into the back of the net and made his name doing it.

Never did this imply that his free-kicks did not have the swing or curl to it. Infact, the master of this art struck some physics defying free-kicks, the best of which came against France, where he struck a 40-yard blinder, leaving Fabien Barthez stranded.

His ferocious strikes always made the defensive wall jump in fear and didn’t give keepers a chance to move, leave aside saving them. Having not missed a leg-day ever at gym (we have the secret behind his power, decoded!), Roberto Carlos had a no non-sense approach to his free-kicks and would ensure he left no doubt when he struck them.

With an ominous free-kick conversion rate, Robert Carlos is one man very capable of disrupting the ISL goal scoring charts with his free-kicks on his journey with the Delhi Dynamos.