Ranking the top five performers from ISL 2022-23 Gameweek 22

There was no shortage of drama in the five fixtures as the league standings and playoff berths were decided.

The league stages of the ISL 2022-23 season have been completed and the playoff spots were decided in a final week of frenetic action. Jamshedpur FC beat Odisha FC 2-0, leaving the Juggernauts praying for FC Goa to drop points in order to qualify. Bengaluru FC answered Odisha’s prayers with a 3-1 win over the Gaurs. Chennaiyin beat NorthEast United 4-3 in a high-scoring encounter, with Sajal Bag scoring the winner in stoppage time.

ATK Mohun Bagan defeated East Bengal 2-0, with both goals in the Kolkata derby coming in the second half, and Hyderabad FC beat Kerala Blasters 1-0 in the final group stage encounter.

Mumbai and Hyderabad finished first and second long back, and have qualified for the semi-finals. ATK Mohun Bagan finish ahead of Bengaluru FC on goal difference. Kerala Blasters ended up fifth and Odisha nabbed the final playoff spot.

Let's glance our eyes through the best performers of ISL 2022-23 gameweek 22.

5. Slavko Damjanovic (ATK Mohun Bagan)

The centre-back helped the Mariners snatch the bragging rights and seal the third place on the table with a dominant display. He turned in Manvir’s back-heel to score the opening goal. Damjanovic was also resolute in defence, completing 90% of his passes and making five clearances.

4. Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin FC)

The Marina Machans’ captain was in on the act again, scoring Chennaiyin’s third goal against NorthEast United in a 4-3 win. Ninthoi Meetei played a long diagonal that was controlled chest-first by Thapa, who then shot powerfully with his left foot past Arindam Bhattacharya. Thapa also created three chances and was unlucky not to bag an assist.

3. Harry Sawyer (Jamshedpur FC)

Sawyer ran the show in midfield against Odisha. He tormented the Juggernauts’ backline by supplying through balls and flick-ons for Daniel Chima Chukwu and Ritwik Das up front. Sawyer scored the first goal after Chukwu headed across goal, and assisted Ritwik a minute later for the second by winning the ball and playing in the forward.

2. Wilmar Jordan (NorthEast United)

Jordan has been one of the bright sparks for NorthEast United this ISL 2022-23 season. The forward scored a second-half brace to keep the Highlanders in the hunt against Chennaiyin. He scored first from Parthib Gogoi’s lay-off inside the box, and then beat Jiteshwor Singh with pace and poked home on the slide to equalize at 3-3.

1. Sivasakthi Narayanan (Bengaluru FC)

Siva ran the show for Bengaluru FC against FC Goa with a starring two-goal performance. He scored the first with a clever run and headed off Roshan’s corner. The second goal came as a tap in after Suresh Wangjam’s shot was saved by Dheeraj Singh. Two goals from two shots on target for the rapidly improving striker.