Top 5 takeaways from ISL 2017-18 so far

Season 2017-18 is the best instalment of the Indian Super League, atleast as of now on various parameters.

November 17 marked the commencement of the biggest Hero Indian Super League (ISL) season yet, complete with 10 teams over four months. Hero ISL 2017-18 completed four weeks of intense action with a total of 22 matches that witnessed some new contenders for the throne, while other usual suspects found it tough going. As the league rolls into its fifth match week, here’s a look at some of the numbers after a month’s action.

Goal-rush

Ferran Corominas is the top scorer of ISL 2017-18 so far with 7 goals 

A total of 59 goals have already been scored in the first 22 games, the maximum when compared to the past three seasons. FC Goa’s Ferran Corominas is the current leading scorer with 7 goals to his name followed by teammate Manuel Lanzarote (4). Thanks to them, Goa are the leading scorers in the league with 13 goals, followed by Bengaluru FC who have netted 10 times.

Domestic development

This season also witnessed a change in rules with the addition of an extra Indian player to the Starting XI to ensure local players get more exposure. With a total of 6 Indian players in the squad now, Hero ISL 2017-18 has seen an increase in the number of domestic assist providers. In 22 matches, there have been 17 different Indian players who have contributed to their team’s fortunes with assists. As far as hitting the back of the net goes, eleven different domestic talents have managed to score thus far, the most by Indians in any season at this stage.

Entertaining and clinical

After 22 matches, the 10 teams have been averaging 2.68 goals per game, which is the most in league history. While Goa, Bengaluru, Chennaiyin FC (9 goals) and FC Pune City (9 goals) have all flourished, the eastern clubs like Jamshedpur FC (1 goal), NorthEast United FC (2 goals) and defending champions ATK (3 goals) have found it difficult to find the back of the net. That aside, another interesting development this season has been the spike in the goal conversion rate, which is at an all-time high, and presently stands at 14.14.

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Re’Coro’d-maker

FC Goa’s Corominas has taken Hero ISL 2017-18 by storm with his prowess in front of goal and is rightfully the leading goal-scorer in the league at the moment. He is the only player in Hero ISL history to score back-to-back hat-tricks, with the second one coming in a matter of a mere seven minutes, which is also the quickest hat-trick ever in the league. When one considers that two hat-tricks have never been scored after 22 games in any season, Corominas’ incredible feat is further accentuated.

Future Hai Football

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Chhangte clocked 35.8km/h against FC Pune City 

A lot of Indian youngsters have risen to the occasion this season with Lallianzuala Chhangte leading from the front after becoming the youngest domestic talent to score and assist in the same ISL game FC Pune City. The Stallions’ Sarthak Golui managed an assist in his first ever ISL match in the same game. Chennaiyin FC’s Baoringdao Bodo also became the youngest player (18 years, 1 month and 2 days) to play in the ISL when he started against FC Goa.