A year ago on November 17, FC Goa trounced Mumbai City FC 7-0 in their home match in the 2nd Hero Indian Super League. Last week in the 3rd ISL, the two teams played a goalless draw at Fatorda, Goa.
The absence of goals has been a significant feature in the ongoing 3rd Hero ISL. Last year there were several high-scoring matches, Mumbai City FC beat North East United 5-0 and Atletico De Kolkata trounced FC Goa 4-0.
FC Goa scored the maximum goals (34) last season but this year they haven’t been the same attacking force.
They have just eight goals in 11 matches so far and have conceded 14. FC Goa have created many chances but their strikers Julio Cesar (Brazil) and international Robin Singh have been inconsistent.
All eight teams have played either 10 or 11 matches but only Delhi Dynamos (top-scorers with 14 goals), Atletico de Kolkata (12) and Chennaiyin FC (12) have over 10 goals.
The lack of goals is not because of a paucity of attacking talent but a change in attitude. The main reason is that the eight franchise teams have realised that the competition is intense, so they play cautiously and don’t open up too much.
In most matches, teams play defensively and wait for the counter-attack or push men forward only in the second half.
All eight coaches have also understood that the ISL is a league of two phases; the basic aim of the eight team round robin league is to qualify for the knock out semi-finals.
More attacking football will probably be witnessed in the double legged semi-finals.
Another significant factor in the 3rd ISL is the topsy turvy nature of the competition.
North East United spent three weeks at the top after winning two matches in a row at the start but at this juncture they are second from the bottom with a tally to 11 points, the same as FC Goa, but Zico’s team are at the bottom because of their inferior goal difference.
A major difference in the 3rd ISL is that coaches are trusting Indian players much more.
Gianluca Zambrotta has used junior international Milan Singh Ongam in midfield in every match, as the youngster has played with great maturity and skill. Milan and Souvik Chakrabarti, who has played as either left or right wing back for Delhi Dynamos in every match, are amongst several Indian players who have got over the complex of competing with foreign stars.
Also earlier this month FC Goa started with just two foreign players due to suspensions and injuries against North East United. History is often made more by accident than design. Goa’s experienced coach Zico realised that even with a majority of Indian players, the team played effectively.
So in the next match against Mumbai City FC, Zico opted to start with eight domestic players and just three foreign players when rules allow him to use as many as six overseas signings.
Zico has also advocated that the ISL should adopt the Asian Football Confederation rule of just four foreigners per team and give more chances to Indian players instead of ageing foreigners.
