ISL 2021-22: Ogbeche leaps ahead in Power Rankings for Phase 4

Foreign attackers continue to dominate the chart.

We are back once again with the Khel Now Power Rankings! Last season, our rankings successfully identified the 10 best performers throughout the course of the league campaign and we have been doing the same thing for the Indian Super League (ISL) season 2021-22 as well.

You all know our rules by now – but here’s a quick brush-up: For every ISL game, our respective correspondents and editors rank their three best-performing players from the match in order. The player ranked at the top of the list is awarded five points. The player finishing second earns three points, whereas the one at the bottom (third place) is given one point.

Such points are carried forward for every player involved in the league, once he’s chosen by our team. Eventually, the total number of points that they accumulate will decide their final position on the leaderboard at the end of the season. The Khel Now Power Rankings will be published in a series of five articles, as we have divided the league into five equal phases of 22 games each for the same. This article includes the rankings after Phase 4 of ISL 2021-22!

Note: Phase 4 of the 2021-22 ISL season began on January 21 with the postponed fixture between Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City FC. The phase ended on February 11 after the game between Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC.

10. Jorge Ortiz (FC Goa) - 16 points

The Spanish forward makes his first appearance in the Power Rankings this season. Ortiz has been the silver-lining to FC Goa’s bad run of form this season. He has already surpassed his numbers from last season and has been Goa’s go-to-man time and again.

In 13 games this season, Ortiz has found the back of the net on seven occasions, including a hat-trick, and has also provided five assists.

9. Alvaro Vazquez (Kerala Blasters) - 17 points

Alvaro has continued his fine run of form this season. The Spaniard scored a goal straight from the heavens against NorthEast United from his own half. 

Vazquez has stepped up to the occasion every time and has helped the Yellow Army maintain their position at the top of the ISL 2021-22. The 30-year-old has scored five goals and provided an assist in 15 games this season.

7. Hugo Boumous (ATK Mohun Bagan) - 18 points

The Frenchman continues to feature in the Power Rankings this season. Boumous has been a vital cog in ATK Mohun Bagan’s good run of form this season.

He is mostly involved in the thick of things for the Mariners and has already made nine goals contributions for his side with five goals and four assists.

7. Alberto Noguera (FC Goa) - 18 points

FC Goa were undefeated in three out of their four matches in Phase 4 and Alberto Noguera had a big contribution in them. Noguera is a multi-faceted midfielder, who can play across multiple positions in the middle of the park and his versatility gives FC Goa an added advantage. The Spaniard created multiple chances for his side, racking up three goals and two assists in the process.

4. Cleiton Silva (Bengaluru FC) - 19 points

The Brazilian has been Bengaluru’s best man up front and has stepped up to the occasion time and again. So far this season, Cleiton has scored seven goals and provided three assists in just 15 outings.

Silva displayed a better version of himself in Phase 4, including a brace against top four favorites Jamshedpur FC and led the Blues to an all-important win. Silva’s performance will certainly have a say in Bengaluru FC’s top-four aspirations this season.

4. Javi Hernandez (Odisha FC) - 19 points

Javi Hernandez has played the leader’s role in Odisha FC’s turnaround in the ISL 2021-22 season. The former Real Madrid "B" player combined well with Jonathas de Jesus and troubled the opposition defenders. 

His creativity in the middle of the park has been Odisha FC’s deadliest weapon on the pitch this season. Javi has scored six goals. Moreover, he has provided five assists for his side.

4. Ahmed Jahouh (Mumbai City FC) - 19 points

Jahouh has added four more points to his tally in Phase 4 of the Power Rankings and has made a jump from seventh to fourth in the standings. He is undoubtedly the best man when it comes to a dead-ball situation and his tally of seven assists speaks volumes about his quality. 

The player holds the midfield together for the Islanders and also shoulders the responsibility of creating and initiating attacks and link-up play.

3. Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC) - 29 points

The Uruguayan magician has made the third position his own in this season’s Power Rankings. Adrian Luna was relatively quiet in Phase 4 and managed to gather just a solitary point in four matches.

But, Luna still delivered good performances for the Blasters. In 15 games so far this season, he has scored twice and assisted four times.

2. Greg Stewart (Jamshedpur FC) - 38 points

After dominating Phase 3 and 4, Greg Stewart has slipped down to the second position in Phase 4. Stewart scored three goals and provided an assist in the four matches in Phase 4 and linked up well with Jamshedpur’s latest import Daniel Chima.

The 31-year-old ranks third in the ISL 2021-22 goalscoring charts this season, with nine goals to his name, including a hat-trick against Odisha FC. The Scot has provided the second joint-highest assists this season (6).

1. Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC) - 39 points

After finishing second in all the three previous phases of the Power Rankings this season, Ogbeche finally moved up to the summit by overtaking Greg Stewart by a single point. The Nigerian currently leads the race for the highly coveted Golden Boot with 14 strikes to his name, including a hat-trick.

Ogbeche averages a goal every 91 minutes, which is the best in the league so far this season. He scored five goals in as many matches in Phase 4 and has therefore made it to the top of the standings.

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