ISL 2019-20: Five highest-scoring games of the season

The final couple of months of the league had some rather intense games with a barrage of goals coming in too.

The 2019-20 ISL season was the most productive one in terms of goals scored in the history of the competition. The ball was put into the back of the net on 294 instances! Interestingly, an average of 3.09 goals per match was recorded - the highest-ever tally in the six editions of the league.

Consequently, there were quite a few games where both teams were extremely efficient and ruthless in front of goal. Hence, we take a look at the five highest goal-scoring ISL matches of the 2019-20 campaign:

5. NorthEast United FC 3-3 Jamshedpur FC (10 February 2020)

F. Gallego (4'), R. Tlang (77'), Leudo (88'),

D. Grande (45+1'), N. Acosta (82'), Memo (85')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJmxEf9JchM

NorthEast United FC’s season had sunk to a point from where there was no turning around. Similarly, Jamshedpur FC's chances of qualifying to the playoffs were quite low too. Nevertheless, this match was arguably one of the better ones that the Highlanders played this season.

Antonio Iriondo’s men leveled NorthEast on the scoreline twice. In the 85th minute, Memo scored the third goal for them, which should have guaranteed three points for the Men of Steel.

However, Jose Leudo produced a fine strike in the 88th minute to cut out Jamshedpur’s advantage. Though NorthEast were culpable for letting the game slip through their clutches, the quality and intensity demonstrated by them in this encounter was quite atypical of their rather feeble and uninspiring displays in other matches.

As for Jamshedpur, Noe Acosta and new entrant David Grande aided them to make inroads into proceedings.

4. Chennaiyin FC 3-4 FC Goa (26 December 2019)

Schembri (57'), Crivellaro (59', 90+1')

Jahouh (26'), B. Fernandes (41'), Boumous (45+1'), Coro (63')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpPdMYj6ock

This tie was an interesting one due to the context that lay behind it. Despite the initial surge in their performances ever since Owen Coyle’s arrival, the actual test of their abilities for the Marina Machans was going to come against FC Goa.

Both teams engaged in one of the most entertaining clashes of the campaign, with a flurry of goals being scored at regular intervals.

The Gaurs had scored thrice until half-time. Andre Schembri and Rafael Crivellaro bagged a goal each within a couple of minutes to cut short that lead. However, Ferran Corominas struck back in the 63rd minute to make it 2-4 for the Gaurs. Chennaiyin kept knocking the door with their constant waves of pressure. Crivellaro finally found another breakthrough in the first minute of injury-time.

That forced Goa to take a step back and they managed to keep hold of the scoreline to earn the three points.

3. FC Goa 5-2 Mumbai City FC (12 February 2020)

Coro (21', 80'), Boumous (37'), Jackichand (39'), M. Rafique (86' O.G.)

Borges (19'), Bipin Singh (57')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VLLnPHlHb0

This was a match in which a draw or even a victory could have bettered Mumbai City’s chances of finishing in the top four. They traveled to Fatorda and drew first blood through Rowllin Borges’ goal.

However, what transpired thereafter was the Islanders’ complete decimation. Corominas scored a brace and Hugo Boumous as well as Jackichand Singh chipped in with valuable goals too. Bipin Singh’s strike sprung a ray of hope in Mumbai’s camp, but Mohammed Rafique couldn’t prevent the ball from going into the net after Lenny Rodrigues' shot deflected off him late on in the game.

Goa weren’t completely dominant in this match, but there were phases when they outclassed Jorge Costa’s men.

Their transitions were seamless. Moreover, they were clinical in front of goal and capitalized on every opportunity presented to them.

2. Odisha FC 4-4 Kerala Blasters (23 February 2020)

Onwu (1', 36',51'), M. Pérez (44' pen.)

N. Das (6' O.G.), Messi Bouli (28'), Ogbeche (82' pen.,90+4' pen.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu2BDYABEzE

Manuel Onwu’s January transfer to Odisha FC turned out to be extremely fruitful and nothing justifies that claim more than the brilliant hat-trick against Kerala Blasters towards the fag end of the league.

However, his adversary Bartholomew Ogbeche also stepped up in time to nail two late goals and help his team claw their way back into the game. Interestingly, both the goals arrived through spot-kicks and it also indicated the number of defensive errors committed during this match.

Raphael Messi Bouli had registered his name on the scoresheet earlier in the first half, whereas Martin Perez Guedes had converted a spot-kick towards the end.

There was nothing much to gain for either of the teams through this match and maybe that was a reason behind the free-spirited nature of the game.

1. Kerala Blasters 3–6 Chennaiyin (1 February 2020)

Ogbeche (48', 65', 76')

Crivellaro (39', 45+1'), Valskis (45', 90+2'), Chhangte (59', 80') 

This was one of the matches in ISL that perfectly demonstrated the brand of football that Chennaiyin FC developed under the tutelage of Owen Coyle. Whilst Kerala had to rely on the treble of goals by Ogbeche, Chennaiyin ensured that a complete rout took place. Rafael Crivellaro, Nerijus Valskis and Lallianzuala Chhangte scored a brace each to register six goals for the Marina Machans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg_4eL21kJQ

Kerala had to resort to playing catch-up throughout the game. On every occasion that Ogbeche tried to reduce the gap on the scoresheet, the Chennaiyin forwards came up with even more convincing attempts to further strengthen their stronghold over proceedings.

In a way, it also demonstrated the over-dependence of the Blasters on Ogbeche. Whilst they didn’t have anyone but him to put the ball into the back of the net with such regularity, Chennaiyin’s forward line combined, interlinked and operated seamlessly as a unit to take the three points home.