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Indian Super League's fifth edition is close to its end and what a season it was. The fans got to see everything on the football grounds across the country, from Coro's goals to Chhetri's moments of brilliance, to some great saves by Amrinder Singh, we have seen it all this season.
With all the league rounds over, the top four sides have been decided and no previous winner has been able to secure a place amongst the top four sides of this season.
The playoffs come with the guarantee of a new winner with Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United FC fighting it out for the prestigious ISL trophy.
Let's take a look at how one of those four sides made it to the playoffs.
FC Goa once again proved that they are the best attacking force in the league by scoring a massive 36 goals in 18 matches, 2 on average per game.
The Sergio Lobera managed side kept it tight at the back as well as they only conceded 20 in 18 matches, just over 1 per game.
#1 Consistency: The key
FC Goa has been consistent throughout this season of the Indian Super League allowing them to be equal on points with Bengaluru FC despite losing to them twice in the season.
Bengaluru FC faltered against the lower table sides who were destroyed at Fatorda Stadium by the Gaurs.
The Virat Kohli co-owned team has destroyed a lot of oppositions at home starting with their semi-final opponents Mumbai City FC who were thrashed 5-0 in the earlier parts of the season.
Another semi-finalist in NorthEast United conceded five goals at the Fatorda Stadium while hitting only one in response.
FC Goa picked up 22 points out of a possible 27 at home this season with only one defeat to Bengaluru FC and a stalemate with Jamshedpur FC hindering their otherwise perfect home record.
#2 The Sergio Lobera effect: FC Goa, now the best-attacking side in the league
In the two seasons that Sergio Lobera has spent at FC Goa, he has successfully established that the Gaurs have the best attacking force in the league by a mile.
Last season, his FC Goa side smashed through all the opponents as they scored 42 goals in 18 matches, 2.33 on average per game. The Goa-based side again outscored all the sides in the 10-team league as they scored 36 goals in 18 matches at an average of 2 per game.
Coro is the leading goalscorer in the league currently with 15 goals in 17 matches and looks set to win the golden boot for the second consecutive season.
In fact, he would be looking to break his own record of most goals in a single ISL season (18) to help his side win the league for the first time.
#3 Turnaround in defensive fortunes
FC Goa scored six more goals last season (42 instead of this season's 36) but also conceded 28 goals in 18 matches compared to just 20 goals this season.
Sergio Lobera is known as an attacking coach but he has focused on much needed defensive reinforcements this season. Unlike last season, Goa did not concede late goals this season that could have cost them important points.
Md Nawaz's rise was crucial to Goa's shutouts in the first half of the season while Naveen Kumar's recent form (4 clean sheets in 5 matches) has given the defence more confidence.
Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena has formed a great defensive partnership in the centre of the defense over the course of the season.
Seriton Fernandes and the skipper Mandar Rao Dessai act as attacking full backs/wing backs with Lenny Rodrigues and Ahmed Jahouh giving the steel in midfield.
FC Goa became the second team after Mumbai City FC to keep five consecutive clean sheets in the Indian Super League, showing how good were they at the back this season.
#4 Having a small squad, a core group of 15 players
Lobera has shown that he trusts a core group of players and likes to start with them week in week out.
20-year old Md Nawaz played every match as he won the manager's trust and became the preferred choice in goal till he picked up a knock and was replaced by Naveen Kumar who has kept four clean sheets in five matches since then.
The double pivot of Lenny Rodrigues and Ahmed Jahouh has been preferred by the manager in almost every match to sit in front of a back four that includes Seriton Fernandes, Mourtada Fall, Carlos Pena and Mandar Rao Dessai. Chinglesana Singh has ably filled in at centre back during the course of the season.
The likes of Edu Bedia, (7 goals and 4 assists in 17 matches) Brandon Fernandes, Jackichand Singh and Hugo Boumous have supplied in with regular assists to help their side as they fill in the three positions behind Coro in attack.
January signing Zaid Krouch and Manvir Singh coming off the bench after the clock hits the hour mark is a regular sight for the Goa fans.
