HFC, ATKMB players star in ISL 2022-23 Team of The Week for GW22

The final matchweek before the playoffs was full of high-octane action.

In the past week, the league stage of the 2022-23 Indian Super League (ISL) came to its conclusion. It was a momentous occasion for a team like Odisha FC that secured playoffs qualification despite losing its last league game of the campaign. In contrast, FC Goa failed to win their ultimate clash and missed their bus to the playoffs.

The Kolkata derby took place which saw the Mariners come out on top against the Red & Gold Brigade. Hyderabad FC got the better of Kerala Blasters away from home while Chennaiyin FC beat NorthEast United in a game that saw seven goals. There were plenty of notable performances from individual players as they set out to secure positive results for their respective teams.

Be it domestic players or foreign, they won the hearts of the fans with their display. On that note, here is a look at Khel Now’s ISL 2022-23 Team of the Week from the final match week of the league stage: 

Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu deserves credit for helping Bengaluru FC win eight ISL 2022-23 games in a row this year. The custodian is showing good form and he was essential in the club’s 3-1 win over FC Goa. He made five saves in the match and caught the ball six times inside his box.

Right-back: Asish Rai (ATK Mohun Bagan)

Asish Rai was solid in the right-back position for ATK Mohun Bagan in their 2-0 win over East Bengal. He was adventurous with the ball and made several runs in the final third. He also had a shot on target and created two chances for his team.

Centre-back: Slavko Damjanovic (ATK Mohun Bagan)

Salvko Damjanovic made a key difference in the Kolkata derby. He scored the opening goal of the game and helped the club keep a clean sheet. The centre-back won the Man of the Match award for his brilliant performance.

Centre-back: Odei Onaindia (Hyderabad FC)

Odei Onaindia was key in helping Hyderabad FC keep a clean sheet in a hostile JLN Stadium in Kochi. He was quick to thwart any attacking moves from KBFC and finished the game with 13 clearances. 

Left-back: Akash Mishra (Hyderabad FC)

Akash Mishra performed well for Hyderabad FC and helped the club deny Kerala Blasters attackers from scoring. His pace allowed him to silence players like Sahal Abdul Samad and Nihal Sudeesh. He was quick to sniff out danger and made four blocks with three interceptions during the match. 

Right winger: Parthib Gogoi (NorthEast United)

Parthib Gogoi was on target for NorthEast United in their 4-3 defeat at the hands of Chennaiyin FC. He was one of the few positives to take away from the game for the Highlanders. The strike from long-range was perhaps the best of the seven goals from the match. Gogoi has been the silver lining for the Highlanders this ISL 2022-23 season.

Central midfielder: Borja Herrera (Hyderabad FC)

Borja Herrera’s goal was the difference-maker between Kerala Blasters and Hyderabad FC. The midfielder scored with a brilliant left-footed strike into the bottom right corner with incredible precision. He also created three chances for his team.

Central midfielder: Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin FC)

Anirudh Thapa was the winner of the Man of the Match award in Chennaiyin FC’s 4-3 win over NorthEast United. The midfielder scored with a brilliant individual effort with his left foot. He also created three scoring chances for his teammates.

Left winger: Halicharan Narzary (Hyderabad FC)

Halicharan Narzary was in a good form against Kerala Blasters and caused plenty of issues down the left flank. He delivered a beautiful grounder cross from the wide channel for Borja Herrera who netted the ball in the bottom right corner. The winger also made four interceptions in a fabulous all-round performance.

Striker: Dimitri Petratos (ATK Mohun Bagan)

Dimitri Petratos worked extremely hard to help the Mariners secure a win in the Kolkata derby. The striker was an omnipresent threat and also scored a late goal that sealed the win for his team. He took five shots on goal as well.

Striker: Sivasakthi Narayanan (Bengaluru FC)

Sivasakthi Narayanan continued his exceptional goal-scoring run with a brace against FC Goa in a 3-1 win. His tally for the ISL 2022-23 season has reached six goals. He will be crucial for the Blues heading into the playoffs. The striker also won the Man of the Match award.