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This season's rock-bottom finish for FC Goa was a disaster no one could have foreseen when the league started two months back
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This season of the Indian Super League has been the most disappointing among the three editions of the glamorous football league for the FC Goa fans. For a team that strolled to the finals last year, playing the brand of jogo bonito that their coach Zico professes, this season's rock-bottom finish was a disaster no one could have foreseen when the league started two months back. In a contrast to last season where they scored a record 29 goals to finish top in the league phase, this year FC Goa had to wait for their fifth match to get their first three points and ended up winning just four matches all season. They lost an ill-tempered final to Chennaiyin FC last year, but the Gaurs had set the benchmark for the other ISL teams. Ironically, both the finalists of 2015 finished at the bottom of the pile this year.
While on one side the fortunes of the two established giants of ISL have dwindled, this season sees one new semi-finalist in Mumbai City FC. The Mumbai franchise, boasting of stars like Nicolas Anelka, had been the most disappointing team in the league in the first two seasons. However, their Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimaraes has forged a side that looks firmly in contention for the title. While Mumbai are the new challengers, they will have to get past old masters Atletico de Kolkata, the inaugural champions, to stake a claim for the ISL crown. While Atletico have not been the most consistent side this season, they still are the most dangerous team in the league and will look to win their second title.
In the other semi-final, the losing finalists of the first season, Kerala Blasters will face off with the ever-improving Delhi Dynamos. Kerala -- arguably the most supported team in the league -- were left heartbroken in the 2014 final when Atletico snatched the title with a last-gasp goal. While they had a disastrous season last year, they have bounced back to be in the fray for the title and remain the dark horses to win the league. Delhi Dynamos on the other hand look the most complete team in the league. The Lions have scored the most goals (27) this season and are a team with much attacking flair. Last season, they missed out on a final berth after losing to FC Goa in the semis. While on paper they look stronger than Kerala, the northerners would have overcome the spirited Tuskers in front of a biased, boisterous Kochi crowd to be in the final, which will also held in the port city. If Atletico don't take the cake this year, we will see a new team crowned champions this season.
