Ranking the top five performers from ISL 2022-23 Gameweek 14

Mumbai City continue their unbeaten run and have notched up five straight wins.

Gameweek 14 of ISL 2022-23 saw Mumbai City extend their lead at the top, while Odisha, Hyderabad and Bengaluru FC notched up key victories. 19 goals were scored in another goal-filled week, and only Mumbai City managed to keep a clean sheet out of the other clubs.

Hyderabad began the game week with a 3-1 victory away at Goa, courtesy of Bartholomew Ogbeche’s hat-trick. Bengaluru rode on Alan Costa’s late winner to upset NorthEast United, Sivasakthi Narayanan scored his first goal for the Blues to open the scoring. Chennaiyin fought back from a 2-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Jamshedpur. Odisha cruised past East Bengal 3-1, and Mumbai City rounded off the week with a 4-0 thrashing of Kerala Blasters.

Mumbai City lead, with Hyderabad chasing close behind. Blasters stay in third, and ATK Mohun Bagan are fourth with a game in hand. Odisha and Goa round off the playoff positions. Chennaiyin sit in seventh, having played a game less. Bengaluru, East Bengal, Jamshedpur, and NorthEast complete the standings.

On that note, let's take a look at the top five performers from ISL 2022-23 Gameweek 14.

5. Aakash Sangwan (Chennaiyin FC)

The left-back had an excellent all-round game against Jamshedpur FC. Sangwan got an assist, created three chances, and put in 10 crosses with 83 touches. Defensively, he managed four successful tackles, the most across both teams, and blocked a crucial effort on target. Despite Chennaiyin’s full-back struggles, this outing from Sangwan indicates that there is talent that can be moulded by tactician Thomas Brdaric.

4. Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC)

Mauricio features on this list for the second week running. Odisha squared up against East Bengal and rode on Mauricio’s brace to emerge victorious 3-1. East Bengal took the lead through Cleiton Silva, but Mauricio equalized with a header from Raynier Fernandes' corner. The in-form Brazilian secured three points for his club with a thunderous finish from a difficult angle.

3. Ritwik Das (Jamshedpur FC)

An ailing Jamshedpur FC turned to Ritwik Das for inspiration and 26-year-old Indian delivered handsomely. Two goals from two shots on target gave Jamshedpur a two-goal advantage against Chennaiyin. The first goal resulted from Rafael Crivellaro’s defence-splitting pass, but Das weaved past two defenders and had the composure to slot the ball home. The second goal oozed individual quality. A dribble down the left to the byline, followed by a curler with his right foot, sent the Furnace into raptures.

2. Jorge Pereyra Diaz (Mumbai City)

The former Kerala Blasters forward gave his former side the blues with a scintillating display at the Mumbai Football Arena. The Argentine was at the right place at the right time to tap in the opener in just the fourth minute. He set up Bipin Singh for a goal after keeping Mehtab Singh’s raking long pass in play.

Diaz scored his second and minacious Mumbai’s fourth in the 22nd minute, sliding in a low shot after receiving Ahmed Jahouh’s pass. Two goals, one assist and two created chances earn him a spot in this list.

1. Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC)

Bartholomew Ogbeche was a one-man wrecking ball for Hyderabad against FC Goa. Ogbeche scored his fourth ISL hat-trick in a 3-1 win against the Gaurs. The first goal was a header from Halicharan Narzary’s cross. After sustaining a series of Goan attacks, which culminated with the equalizer, Ogbeche was left unmarked and slammed in the second goal on the turn. The hat-trick was sealed with a magnificent header, marking his seventh goal of the ISL 2022-23 season.