The second season of the Indian Super League ended with Chennaiyin FC crowned as the champions after their 3-2 win against FC Goa in the final. Altogether, 186 goals were scored this season and it proved to be way more entertaining than last season.This season also saw a lot more late drama and many comebacks from the teams. Apart from regular team goals, we saw some screamers also beign scored during the season.Here, we take a look at the 5 best goals scored this season:
#5 Chris Dagnall vs FC Pune City
Kerala Blasters hosted FC Pune City during the group stages of the Indian Super League with both teams looking for an important win. The first half was evenly contested and both teams came close to scoring a few times, but it was Merseyside-born striker Chris Dagnall who gave Kerala Blasters the lead just before half-time.
Rahul Bheke’s cross fell to Johnson, he failed to clear it properly and the ball fell to Dagnall, who blasted it past Simonsen into the top right corner.
The Blasters later went on to win 2-0 with Sanchez Watt scoring the second goal. Chris Dagnall, a youth product of Tranmere Rovers, scored 6 goals and assisted another two in 13 games for Kerala Blasters, but couldn’t help avoid a bottom-placed finish.
#4 Borja Fernandez vs FC Goa
Borja Fernandez gave the Indian Super League and Ateltico de Kolkata a perfect start after he scored a stunner against Mumbai City FC in the first ever game of the league last year.The Atletico de Kolkata skipper scored a similar goal against FC Goa in a 4-0 win at the Salt Lake Stadium this season.
Sameehg Doutie played the pass to Borja Fernandez, who slammed the ball from just outside the box to make it 2-0 to Atletico de Kolkata. The goal in general looked very simple, but it was Borja’s technique that made it appear very straight-forward.
The midfielder has scored just two goals in his two seasons in the Indian Super League, and both those goals are as good as you’ll see in the tournament.
The 34-year-old is a youth product of the Real Madrid academy and has played for several La Liga sides. His brilliant performances for Atletico de Kolkata last season earned him a six-month contract at La Liga side Eibar.
#3 John Stiven Mendoza vs FC Goa
The top scorer of the Indian Super League this season, Stiven Mendoza scored a stunner against FC Goa to complete his hat-trick. Chennaiyin FC were leading 3-0 in the 75th minute and were certain to leave Goa with maximum points but that didn’t stop Mendoza from going for more.
Bruno Pelissari sent in a sublime cross from the right side, which Mendoza chested down and blasted past Andrade. The game finished 4-0 and Mendoza continued his brilliant goalscoring form.
Stiven Mendoza scored 13 goals in 16 games this season, more than any other player. The Colombian striker also has three assists to his name, which put him on level terms with Iain Hume in direct goal involvement stats.
With him helping Chennaiyin defeat FC Goa by scoring in the final, there was no doubt that he was the Hero of the League.
#2 Josue Currias vs NorthEast United
Last year’s runners-up Kerala Blasters hosted NorthEast United in the first game of the season. Both teams were struggling to find the back of the net until the 48th minute when Spanish midfielder Josue Currias blasted one in from outside the box.
Rahul Bheke sent a long throw-in into the penalty box which the NorthEast United FC defense failed to clear. CK Vineeth tried an overhead kick, but the ball fell to Currias who slammed it past Hengbart to give his team the lead.
Kerala Blasters later went on to win the game 3-1, with Mohammed Rafi and Sanchez Watt also finding the back of the net for the home side. Josue Currias, a youth product of the Barcelona academy, also played for Finnish side SJK previously.
#1 Iain Hume vs Chennaiyin FC
Atletico de Kolkata were hosting Chennaiyin FC in the second leg of the Indian Super League semi-finals. The defending champions had lost the first leg 3-0 and were leading the second leg 1-0 in the 86th minute.
Antonio Habas’ team still needed two goals to take the game to extra-time and Canadian striker Iain Hume came up with something special in the 86th minute to make it 2-0. The 32-year-old scored a sublime volley from just outside the box to score one of the best goals seen in the league, giving his team a fighting chance.
In the end, Kolkata won the game 2-1, but failed to qualify for the final. Hume came close to scoring again in the dying minutes of the game, but his shot hit the woodwork. The Candian striker was directly invloved in 15 goals this season, with him scoring 11 and providing 4 assists in 16 games.