I-League Team of the Week 7: Real Kashmir, Mohun Bagan dominate

The two weeks in the competition witnessed several movements in the table.

The I-League has now passed its halfway point, meaning the race for the top positions is getting more and more intense with each passing week. With Mohun Bagan having a firm grip on top spot, those below them scurry to get closer to the runaway leaders. Real Kashmir walloped back into contention with back-to-back wins, while Punjab FC continued their impressive run of form with a dramatic success over sorrowful NEROCA FC. The thrilling set of matches witnessed inspired performances, with certain players really stamping their authority. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] Here’s the Khel Now I-League Team of Week 7 -

Goalkeeper: Phurba Lachenpa (Real Kashmir)

The former Shillong Lajong custodian seems to have found his stride at Real Kashmir, putting in a series of commendable performances to prove why they bought him. Lachenpa was impenetrable against both Aizawl FC and Indian Arrows, keeping the two attack-minded sides' threat nullified. He made a number of noteworthy clutch saves to keep his team on top, gaining back-to-back clean-sheets for the first time this season.

Right-Back: Novin Gurung (Real Kashmir)

The young right-back mirrored his teammate by being a proactive figure for the Snow Leopards, as they picked up consecutive wins. Despite being occasionally aggressive with his challenges, Gurung dealt with young Nikhil Raj’s threat pretty well to thwart the young Arrows. He continued his good form against Aizawl, keeping the dangerous Rochharzela quiet throughout. While the youngster wasn’t as decisive moving forward as he’d like to be, his valuable defensive work definitely helped his side’s cause.

Khel Now I-League Team of Week 7

Centre-Back: Andre Ettienne (Gokulam Kerala)

The big Trinidad and Tobago defender was on song when Gokulam Kerala hosted Churchill Brothers in an important game for the Malabarians. While he didn’t have to face up against Willis Plaza, Ettienne still stamped his authority by frustrating the visitors with his clever defensive work. He kept Mapuia from being a menace in the final third and made some important clearances to see through a victory and clean-sheet for his side. While he wasn't as successful in repeating the same against TRAU, the defender gave enough prove that his form is on the upward trajectory.

Centre-Back: Mehtab Singh (East Bengal)

Mehtab Singh was under pressure to control his backline when paired alongside the inexperienced Asheer Akhtar against defending champions Chennai City. But, he succeeded with flying colours, putting in an effective performance to help East Bengal to their first clean-sheet of the season. Singh made some decisive challenges, especially in order to keep the dangerous Fito quiet and thwarted a lot of danger. Despite his good showing, he was benched in the Red and Gold's defeat against Indian Arrows. [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Left-Back: Sebastian Thangmuansang (Gokulam Kerala)

Sebastian’s been among the reliable defensive figures for Gokulam Kerala this season and proved his steely mettle with an impressive showing against Churchill Brothers. The 21-year-old dealt with the Red Machines’ pacy movement pretty well, making commendable challenges to deny them any penetration through his side. He led his side to a valuable win as well as a clean-sheet and gave a proactive performance before being held by TRAU FC on Sunday.

Right Wing: Vikram Pratap Singh (Indian Arrows)

Indian Arrows’ fearless captain was tireless, inspiring his side to show definite improvement in form in recent weeks. While the youngster saw his industrious effort against Real Kashmir go waste, he wasn’t to be denied by East Bengal. Singh troubled the Red and Gold with his incisive runs down the right and produced an amazing goal with a long-range screamer to hand them only their second loss of the season. If his goalscoring heroics continue, the Arrows' success rate should get better in the second half of the season.

Central Midfield: Joseba Beitia (Mohun Bagan)

Joseba Beitia continues to write himself into the Mohun Bagan history books, as he dominated his oppositions, inspiring the Mariners to back-to-back away wins, enabling them to further stamp their authority in the title race. While he did create some good chances against NEROCA, Beitia wasn’t to be denied of direct contributions against Chennai City. [KH_ADWORDS type="2" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] He produced two assists with two inch-perfect corners being finished off by Munoz and Diawara. The brace of assists took his tally to five for the season and considering how he’s seemingly getting better, that’ll ramp up in weeks to come.

Central Midfield: Mason Robertson (Real Kashmir)

The heart of Real Kashmir continued to act as their spirit with two clinical performances, helping them record consecutive wins for the first time this season. Robertson not only shone on the defensive front with persistent tackles and recoveries, but also proved his effectiveness in the final third. The Scotsman scored a strong header to seal three points against Arrows, before assisting Kallum Higginbotham’s opener against Aizawl. He went onto finish off a sublime counter-attack comfortably to seal the win against Aizawl, thus scoring in back-to-back matches as well.

Left Wing: Nongdamba Naorem (Mohun Bagan)

Nongdamba Naorem’s probably the player to have benefited the most from Kibu Vicuna’s revolution at Mohun Bagan, as he’s getting better with each passing match. His confidence was palpable in his return to Manipur against NEROCA, proving his poacher’s instinct with a cute finish from close to give them the lead. [KH_ADWORDS type="1" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] He then assisted Diawara’s goal with a brilliant cross, before assisting him once again against Chennai City. Naorem continued to trouble defenders with his dribbling and movement.

Forward: Aser Dipanda Dicka (Punjab FC)

Aser Dipanda Dicka is hungry for that Golden Boot and is determined to stamp over every other striker in the league. The Punjab FC forward worked his magic to help complete a stunning 3-2 comeback win for his side, after being 0-2 down in the first half! A sublime free-kick from close beat Marvin Phillip. However, his last-gasp winner from a defensive error set off dramatic scenes, with owner Ranjit Bajaj in seventh-heaven. With that hat-trick, Dicka is now the I-League top scorer with eight goals and looks guaranteed to score more in the coming games. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Forward: Papa Babacar Diawara (Mohun Bagan)

Mohun Bagan’s towering forward has completed their puzzle by being the clinical forward Kibu Vicuna craved from the very beginning. After his heroics in the Kolkata Derby, Diawara found the net against NEROCA with an emphatic header. Papa turned up the tune against Chennai City, scoring a clever header and finish from close to score an impressive brace. Apart from the fact that he has scored in three consecutive games, Diawara’s hold-up play, distribution and work-rate prove how important he is for the Mariners' success. He’ll be a vital figure in getting them over the line in the I-League title race.