After somewhat of a slow start, the 2016 Indian Super League (ISL) picked up pace in the second half with teams beginning to find their groove and establishing distance between them and the chasing pack.
Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters, Delhi Dynamos and Atletico de Kolkata are the teams through to the semis and will be part of very closely fought encounters to determine who makes it to the final.
It was the most competitive of the three editions we've seen so far with the top four sides separated by just a point from each other.
As is wont to do, we try and pick the footballers who performed the best in this team of the league phase of this year's ISL.
Note: In keeping with what the teams work with, the side has been picked with the 6:5 ratio in play - six foreigners to five Indians - in the starting eleven. Additionally, there are five substitutes.
We all love goals and adventurous play, so this team is going to turn out in a forthright 4-3-3 out on the pitch.
GK: Apoula Edel Bete (FC Pune City)
Unfortunately for the giant Armenian, it wasn't to be a hat-trick of titles after having been part of the title winning side in both of the first two seasons. Edel’s move to Pune saw him endure a tough time with a defence that offered him very little protection.
Despite his team's shortcomings, Bete had a very solid season, making 46 saves (the most by any keeper this season), preventing further damage for his side. He featured in all but one game for them and was one of the few players from the team to really make an impact this season.
RB: Sandesh Jhingan (Kerala Blasters)
The ISL Emerging Player from the inaugural season has grown better with every passing season. After initially playing at centre-back due to the absence of Aaron Hughes, Jhingan shifted to the right-back role once the Northern Irishman returned.
Jhingan excelled in both roles for a Kerala defence that, barring that one collapse against Mumbai, was a tough net to escape for most sides. He had 25 tackles, 15 interceptions and won 17 aerial duels across all 14 games.
CB: Cedric Hengbart (Kerala Blasters)
The 36-year-old Frenchman was an ever-present in the heart of the Blasters defence, providing a calming influence and being a very good reader of danger. When it came to aerial deliveries, Hengbart was very good at defending as evidenced by his 31 aerial duels won, the highest in the league.
Featuring in every game, he also had 25 interceptions (7th) and 30 tackles (top 10) to his name. Not just that, he chipped in with two assists and a goal as well.
CB: Lucian Goian (Mumbai City)
A rock for the Mumbai team, Lucian Goian helped them solve a problem that had plagued them in the first two seasons, a leaky defence.
Quick to get to his man and never hesitant to put in a tackle, Goian’s powerful showing in defence provided Mumbai with a solid platform this campaign.
Between Hengbart’s calm assuredness and smart positioning and Goian’s all-action style, this would make for a very good defensive partnership. The Romanian led the league in tackles, making 67 of them, was second in interceptions with 31 and fourth in aerial duels won with 25.
LB: Souvik Chakraborty (Delhi Dynamos)
While much of the attention deservedly went to the Dynamos’ attack for their remarkable form this season, there were a couple of guys at the back who helped them hold down the fort. Souvik was one of them.
Very underrated and often overlooked, the Mohun Bagan Academy product has been quietly battling away in that Dynamos defence all season. One of his attributes is the way he breaks up play when the opposition is advancing on his goal.
Souvik made the second-most tackles (58), behind only Goian and also had an impressive 31 interceptions (8th in the league).
MF: Florent Malouda (Delhi Dynamos)
After eight assists last year, the assist master has been at it again this season, leading the assists chart with five to his name (jointly with Marcelinho and Jonatan Lucca).
He's also added goals to his tally, scoring three, all in all contributing to eight goals. With a potent attacking unit in front of him, Malouda has been able to pull the strings expertly from midfield, producing many a defence-splitting pass.
MF: Raphael Augusto (Chennaiyin FC)
While often found guilty of holding on to the ball for far too long, Augusto was still one of the best performers in what was a disappointing season for Chennaiyin.
The midfielder contributed hugely in both attack and defence, shielding the ball and helping Chennaiyin dominate possession when on the ball while trying to find men forward with his passes and pressing the opposition and making tackles when defending, making him amongst the best two-way midfielders in the league.
The Brazilian has four assists (2nd highest) to his name while making 57 tackles (3rd). He also made 15 interceptions.
MF: Milan Singh (Delhi Dynamos)
Milan Singh has been a revelation this season for the Dynamos and stats won't illustrate well enough how good his performances have been.
Gianluca Zambrotta put faith in Milan early in the season and he repaid that faith with superb displays, eventually making that midfield spot his own. He played 13 of the 14 games, proving his durability all the while keeping his efforts consistent.
A tireless runner, he's provided his team with the energy in the middle of the park, contributing two goals while also putting in 29 tackles, the most in his team after Souvik.
FW: Marcelinho (Delhi Dynamos)
The Brazilian is perhaps the most dangerous attacker in the league this season, possessing a multitude of weapons with which he can hurt teams.
He has a vicious left foot that can produce stinging shots, has a turn of pace that can leave defenders stranded and has excellent touch and loves to play one-twos in the attacking third.
Marcelinho is the leading goalscorer and joint-leading assist provider in the league with nine goals and five assists to his name.
FW: Kean Lewis (Delhi Dynamos)
Joining Marcelinho in the forward three is India's Kean Lewis, one of the best wingers to emerge in recent times.
A very skilled dribbler, Lewis is very direct in his approach in that he likes to take on the defender and run at them when he finds himself with the ball out wide.
Once he cuts in, he's equally adept at putting in a cross or cutting the ball back or even taking a shot. The Tata Football Academy product has provided four goals and two assists for his team and numerous headaches for the opposition.
FW: CK Vineeth (Kerala Blasters)
It is very rare that somebody plays only six games out of 14 and is included in the team of the season. But such has been Vineeth’s impact upon his arrival that you simply can't look past it.
After returning from duties with Bengaluru FC on their amazing run to the AFC Cup final, the man from Kerala has hit the ground running with his Blasters side, notching up five goals and an assist already in just six games.
He is the joint-second-highest scorer, but the other seven who he shares it with played the full season to get there. It's a purple patch of form that has served the Blasters very well, especially after they struggled for goals early on in the season.
Substitutes
GK: Amrinder Singh (Mumbai City)
Like his Bengaluru FC club-mate Vineeth, Amrinder has been immense for his side since his return to the ISL, conceding zero goals and shutting out the opposition with four clean sheets in four games. Impeccable.
DF: Jerry Lalrinzuala (Chennaiyin FC)
The breakout young star of ISL 2016, Jerry had strong showings for last year's champs throughout the season, not letting the stage overawe him at any point.
The young left-back contributed two assists and also scored a brilliant goal in their final game of the season.
MF: Javi Lara (Atletico de Kolkata)
Perhaps the man with the best delivery from free-kicks and corners, Lara was a key part of this year's Atletico de Kolkata side, especially with their reliance on big, physical forwards such as Helder Postiga and Juan Belencoso.
He has so far scored three goals this season, and is a potent goal threat and works to offer lead striker Iain Hume support.
FW: Richard Gadze (Delhi Dynamos)
Forming a fearful frontline attack with Lewis and Marcelinho, Gadze had five goals and four assists for the side from the capital.
Still only 22, the Ghanaian’s best is probably still yet to come and his team will be expecting great things from him in the immediate future.
FW: Diego Forlan (Mumbai City)
Mumbai's marquee player turned in some good to very good performances through the season. He was the constant in their front three (when fit) with Sony Norde, Matias Defederico, Sunil Chhetri and Jackichand Singh alternating in the other spots.
Forlan was Mumbai's top-scorer with five goals and also chipped in with two assists.
