Top five goals in the ISL Phase One

The first few fixtures have seen some long-range strikes, deft finishes and last-minute goals.

The fifth edition of the Indian Super League has started in dramatic fashion. After nearly two rounds of matchdays, we have seen some exciting matches, thrilling results, fantastic performances and of course, wonderful goals. 

In the following, we take a look at the top five best goals in the ISL's first phase of fixtures.

5. Rowllin Borges’ towering header against ATK

 

 

 

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Watch: Borges' header earned NorthEast United three points against ATK 

NorthEast United’s Rowllin Borges rose high above the ATK backline to head home Federico Gallego’s wonderful corner in what was a perfectly executed set-piece routine. The Highlanders took on ATK in the second round of ISL fixtures at the Mecca of Indian football, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

The entire game was sloppy and cagey with both sides having no clear ideas on how to score. As the match looked set to finish as a dull and goalless draw, NEUFC earned a corner in the dying minutes. Borges, who had been introduced to the game as a substitute met Gallego’s delivery by rising high and flicked it sublimely, as ATK keeper Arindam Bhattacharya could only stand and watch. Borges’ goal decided all three points in favour of NorthEast in the 89th minute.

4. Miku’s wonderful finish against Chennaiyin

 

 

 

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Watch: Miku scored a wonderful goal against the defending champions

As Chennaiyin lost possession in midfield because of sloppiness, Xisco Hernandez took charge of the ball and delivered a gem of a through-pass to Miku, who was making a darting run ahead. The ball fell perfectly into his path and he took one touch and finished the move by striking a powerful shot past opposing goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.

That was the only goal in the game and Miku’s strike helped Bengaluru FC exact revenge against Chennaiyin in what was a repeat of last season’s grand finale, one which Bengaluru lost.

3. Stojanovic’s fantastic strike against ATK to seal the victory

Holicharan Narzary lofted a beautiful ball over the top towards the path of Slavisa Stojanovic. The Serb brought it down from the air with a deft first touch, taking it to the left of Gerson Vieira. He then made a fool out of the defender by proceeding to go outside, but ended up cutting inside and struck his shot. The ball swerved in the air and beat Arindam Bhattacharya, by floating into the top corner. There is very little a keeper can do when a shot is struck so beautifully.

Stojanovic sealed the 0-2 victory in favour of Kerala Blasters in the opening ISL fixture of 2018/19.

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2. Pranjal Bhumij rises to the occasion in exquisite style

As Mumbai City trailed in the game, chasing the shadows of Kerala Blasters throughout the game, one man stood up and decided to alter the course of the game in the dying minutes.

The Blasters were 1-0 up and Mumbai coach Jorge Costa threw his men into all-out attack in pursuit of the all-important equaliser. In what was possibly the last move of the game, the ball found its way to Pranjal’s feet who took one touch with his right foot and struck an absolutely outrageous shot from well outside the box, that beat Dheeraj Singh at the near post

1. Rana Gharami lit up the capital with a superlative strike

 

 

 

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Watch: Rana Gharami's stunner against Pune City

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28-year-old Rana Gharami struck a thunderbolt in the game against Pune City that found its way into the top corner and caught everyone watching the game by surprise and left them in utter disbelief!

The Delhi Dynamos defender’s audacious and ridiculous solo effort made sure that the capital franchise at least shared the points as Pune City crawled their way into the game with a very late equaliser. However, the story of the match and its highlights revolved around Gharami’s strike that is surely an early contender for the Goal of the Season in this edition of the ISL.