Kolkata's big two both registered wins, building momentum ahead of their mammoth clash against each other in the next round. Mohun Bagan beat Aizawl FC at home in a five-goal thriller while East Bengal had a relatively easier outing against new boys Chennai City FC.
Defending champions Bengaluru FC returned to action after duty away at the AFC Champions League qualifiers, but were forced to settle for a point against a resolute DSK Shivajians side.
Elsewhere, Minerva Punjab picked up their first win of the campaign by beating Mumbai FC at home and Shillong Lajong continued to prove that their home ground is a fortress. As we wrap up round seven of the 2017 I-League, here's our pick for the Team of the Week.
(Playing in a 3-4-3 formation)
GK: Vishal Kaith (Shillong Lajong)
Shillong's forward, Asier Dipanda Dicka, may have grabbed the all-important goal in their latest home win, a 1-0 victory over Churchill Brothers, yet their most significant contributor sat right at the back. With the match being a tight affair, Kaith was called on to make two very important saves for his side that eventually ensured the three points.
The first, a superb save off Ansumana Kromah when the Churchill striker found himself one-on-one with Kaith in the first half, and the second, a firm hand to deny an Adil Khan header that was going towards goal in the second half.
Defenders
DF: Juan Antonio Gonzalez (Bengaluru FC)
Another man who produced stern rearguard action this round was Bengaluru's Spanish centre-half Juanan. In the absence of regular partner John Johnson, suspended after his dismissal in the last match, the Spaniard partnered Salam Ranjan Singh at the back. And it was not an easy night for the Bengaluru defence as Shivajians pressured them relentlessly with attacks from all sides.
The pressure paid off for the Pune side as they scored two and if not for Juanan, they might have got more. Some last ditch tackles from the 29-year-old meant that the champions were still in the game, paving the way for their second half fightback.
The best of those blocks was to deny Holicharan Narzary in the first half with the score still 0-0, just as it looked like Shivajians were going to open the scoring.
DF: Ivan Bukenya (East Bengal)
The mountain of a man that is Bukenya was a towering presence for East Bengal as he swatted away whatever danger the Chennai City attack posed to his side, in the process helping them maintain a clean sheet. In a battle of brawn versus brawn, Bukenya found himself up against Chennai City's Brazilian striker Marcos 'Tank' Vinicius, quite the physical specimen himself.
Yet Bukenya imposed himself at the heart of East Bengal's defence making it difficult for Tank and his partner Charles De Souza to get any meaningful attacks going. With Chennai managing to restrict East Bengal to their own box, there was the chance that Chennai City could capitalise on a quick break and maybe even score a goal against the Kolkata giants, but Bukenya made sure that no such irregularities took place.
DF: Samuel Shadap (Shillong Lajong)
The local lad from Shillong was a major influence in their win against Churchill Brothers. Not only did he hold up his end at the back, preventing Churchill's speedy wingers from causing too much havoc, but also bombed forward with regularity to provide a threat of his own in the attacking third.
With some better ball control and execution in the final third, Shillong may have won more comfortably.
Midfielders
MF: Jayesh Rane (Aizawl FC)
Aizawl looked to rebound from their first loss of the campaign last time round against Chennai City and they ran Mohun Bagan incredibly close in a thriller of a game at the Rabindra Sarobar. After a subdued performance in the previous game, Jayesh Rane came to life in this one and was the tormenter-in-chief for Bagan as he gave their defence problems all evening long.
With his mazy runs, he managed to stretch the play effectively, helping his side open up the Kolkata outfit with ease. After going a goal down, he provided the equaliser, slamming in Stephane Kamo Bayi's square pass into an open net and provided the assist for their second goal, delivering a corner straight to the head of an unmarked Ashutosh Mehta who made no mistake.
Unfortunately for him and his side, Bagan got the late winner meaning it was zero points at the end of it.
MF: Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal)
Captaining the side, Didika produced a superb display from midfield, playing a key role in his side eventually breaking down a stubborn Chennai City defence to continue their winning run. The visitors from the southern city had managed to frustrate the league leaders by being compact and not allowing them room to run with the ball, an effort that saw them go into halftime with the game deadlocked at 0-0.
In the second half, though, East Bengal picked it up a bit and it was Didika who created the opportunity with his lovely dinked pass over the Chennai City defence for Wedson Anselme, who gave East Bengal the lead with a cool finish.
Didika also had a hand in the second goal, an indirect assist one could say, getting the ball to Anselme, who in turn turned provider for Willis Plaza's strike. And he capped off proceedings by stepping up to take the spot-kick in stoppage time, converting to make it 3-0 and asserting his team's dominance before the clash with rivals Bagan.
MF: Juan Quero Barrasso (Shivajians)
The diminutive playmaker was once again the cynosure of much of Shivajians' attacks as he took the game to Bengaluru. Along with his strikers, the pressure they exerted on the Bengaluru defence was massive as the reigning champs were thoroughly outplayed in the first half.
Quero had a shot cannon off the bar in the 30th minute and had another one in the second half which hit the upright. Apart from his strikes, he was also dangerous supplying key passes to the frontmen in the final third. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Quero continued the strong run of form that he has displayed right through the season.
MF: Anirudh Thapa (Minerva Punjab)
A first win is always a huge shot in the arm for any side, even more so if you are one of the minnows in a league. Thapa, the young AIFF Elite Academy product, on loan from Chennaiyin FC, produced a magnificent display in the Minervans' first league win as they overcame Mumbai FC 2-1.
Playing wide on the wings, he was an important channel of attack for the young Punjab team. His crosses from the wide areas were a constant threat to deal with, and one of them even found the back of the net as his attempted corner went directly into the goal.
Attack
FW: Wedson Anselme (East Bengal)
His name has been a near constant when you look at the result of any of East Bengal's matches post their 90 minutes of exertion in this year's I-League. What a signing Anselme has proven to be as he continued his goal-scoring run, taking his tally to five goals, joint-second in the league.
His starring double-act with his partner upfront, Willis Plaza (also with five goals), has seen East Bengal score for fun. Against Chennai City, the resolute visitors had made it hard for the hosts to take control, but Anselme gave them the crucial breakthrough with a beautifully taken goal.
It's not just his goalscoring though that's been impressive. Early in the first half, he set up winger Nikhil Poojary with a lovely through ball which the youngster failed to capitalise on. He supplied his partner-in-crime Plaza with the assist for the second goal that put the game beyond Chennai City's reach.
Anselme and his partnership with Plaza have put East Bengal in a good place so far and rivals Mohun Bagan will have a tough time putting a leash on them.
FW: Darryl Duffy (Mohun Bagan)
A super-quick goal in the second minute from the Scotsman led many to believe that Bagan would run riot against Aizawl. However, it would prove to be the first of five in what was an absolute entertainer. This game wasn't an easy one for Bagan, but thankfully for them, their Scottish marksman was sharp on the night, scoring a brace to power his team to a 3-2 win and a crucial three points as they attempt to keep pace at the top.
His neat header off Katsumi Yusa's cross for his first was followed by a well-struck penalty deep into the second half as Bagan survived a scare.
FW: Holicharan Narzary (Shivajians)
They nearly pulled it off, but Salam Ranjan Singh's last-gasp equaliser saw Shivajians fail to hold onto their lead and be forced to settle for a point against Bengaluru FC. Shivajians had played superbly for the first 60 minutes and fully deserved their 2-0 lead, a lead given to them by Assam man Holicharan Narzary, who grabbed a double, either side of half-time.
After sitting out the last game, coach Dave Rogers introduced Narzary into the starting line-up for this one and he did not disappoint. Right from the get go he managed to get into threatening spaces, proving to be a thorn in Bengaluru's side.
He stole the ball from the defence for his first, while for his second, he was left with a simple finish after running onto a through ball from midfield. The two goals apart, Narzary had opportunities to score more, but for some last-ditch defending from Bengaluru that saw those attempts thwarted.
