Run Forest! Run!
Al-Fateh have trampled everything in their path and currently sit atop Division 2 having scored 35 goals, 19 more than their next closest rival, FC Bengal. Forwards Nihal Colaco and Zaib Sherief (24 goals and 10 assists split equally) have been a cut above the rest and defences have struggled to deal with them. Their own defence, on the other hand, has kept 5 clean sheets in 7 games.
Surprise, surprise!
Come the end of the season, FC Bengal might look back to their game against Al-Fateh and the two-goal lead they wasted in the final 10 minutes of the game and wonder might have been. But for now they sit in second place, something they might not have foreseen during pre-season.
Saheed Adeoye has scored 13 goals in 6 games (the latest being a brace against Diablos while playing with fever) and has absolutely wrecked defences with his pace and dribbling while Askia Taofeek and Arjun Sehgal have provided for an excellent supporting cast.
The final countdown…
Titans FC are the only team to have played all the teams in the top half of the table and now sit in a comfortable position to take 12 points out of 12 if they play their cards right. Rohann Mathew and Anirudh KD have been consistent performers while Rakesh Kumar and Elizar Bareh have had their games. They have had a rollercoaster season so far but have a great chance to make it to the top tier for next season.
Ghosts of TAL past, present and future
Just when Athlos United looked like they were on a roll and striding towards the top, they stumbled against Sparta and followed it up with a goalless draw against Titans and now lurk just outside the top three. Arun Thomas and Victor Santosh have been effective in midfield but Mohammed Arshaque has been their MVP so far, holding together the defence. Manager Midhun Nair has some tough decisions to make over the break if the team is to achieve promotion this time around.
Diablos FC started the campaign as favourites for the title but their form has considerably tapered off and they haven’t picked up a win since GW 4. Siddharth TC has been their best player so far but the likes of Aakash Bajaj and Zahan Umrigar need to pick up their game if they are to achieve promotion this time around.
The return of Tony Lobo to the squad will provide them with some much-needed composure at the back, something that has been missing the past few games.
Rise to the challenge?
Sitting comfortably in mid-table, FCB Sparta have been very consistent over the season and with a bit of luck might find themselves in one of the promotion spots come end of February. Benjamin George and Zac Thomas have been outstanding for them while Binu NP has made some extremely important saves to keep his side in games. They seem to have a good sense of understanding on the pitch that has helped them go toe-to-toe against the bigger teams.
Jekyll or Hyde?
Grasshoppers FC have been a frustrating side to watch because of their inconsistencies. Most of their matches have been a tale of two halves with an emphasis generally on a lack of concentration towards end of games. The mid-season additions of Bangalore legend Mahendra Mani should boost their squad.
Ryesh Venkatraman and Manik Tao have put in decent shifts but will need much more if they want to finish in the top half of the table.
Need fervour more than fever…
Probably the most disappointing team of the season, Joras came in with a pre-season reputation for playing quality football but have miserably disappointed. Their win over Kudlu in the opening week seemed to be an aberration and their form ever since has been mediocre at best.
A win in the final week before the break has helped get out of the bottom three but they will need much more if they are to aim for even a mid table finish.
Brunt of Brunton…
FC Brunton have been a much-improved side from last season but squandered a big chance when they had the possibility of sneaking into one of the promotion spots. Mohit Ahuja has been an excellent signing with the forward scoring 5 goals in 5 games.
Overall they have been predictable and should be looking to add flair to the squad in their quest to escape the clutches of mid-table mediocrity.
And the rest…
FC Kudlu started the season brightly but have since tailed off. The lack of results can mainly be contributed to the in-season departure of forward Akinwumi Jarule, who had 4 goals in their first 3 games. The additions of Uba Knayzo has been key in defence but providing support to Nikutten Neroth up front should be their main goal in the offseason.
GW 7 saw FC Lawless pick up their first win of the season and they did so in style as they put on a dominating performance against Kudlu. Nakul Ganapathy has been dependable in midfield and but they need more from their defence if they are to have a revival of sorts.
A sharp fall for a team with a reputation coming in as the emerging team of Season 2, Netbusters FC find themselves at the bottom of the table come Christmas. Mainstays from last time Rony Samson and Gigen Dev missing most of the first half of the season has impacted them more than expected.
Swaraj Ghosh’s full throttle style of keeping has let him down a few times including letting in a goal in a tight game against Kudlu. Netbusters need to find that oomph they had last season if they are to pick up some wins before the end of the season.
| # | Name | Team | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saheed Adeoye | FC Bengal | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Nihal Colaco | Al-Fateh | 6 | 12 |
Zaib Sherief | Al-Fateh | 7 | 12 | |
| 4 | Mohit Ahuja | FC Brunton | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Akinwumi Jarule | FC Kudlu | 3 | 4 |
Benjamin George | FCB Sparta | 7 | 4 |
| # | Name | Team | Games Played | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nihal Colaco | Al-Fateh | 6 | 5 |
Zaib Sherief | Al-Fateh | 7 | 5 | |
| 3 | Tariq Sheriff | Al-Fateh | 3 | 3 |
Shaik Inayath | Al-Fateh | 5 | 3 | |
Zac Thomas | FCB Sparta | 5 | 3 | |
Vivek Swaminathan | Al-Fateh | 6 | 3 | |
Askia Taofeek | FC Bengal | 6 | 3 |
| # | Name | Team | Games Played | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adil Ahmed | Al-Fateh | 7 | 4 |
| 2 | Kenny Oyelade | FC Bengal | 5 | 2 |
Nitesh Pandey | Athlos United | 6 | 2 | |
Binu NP | FCB Sparta | 7 | 2 |
Pos. | Name | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Al-Fateh | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 32 | 19 |
2 | FC Bengal | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 14 |
3 | Titans FC | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 13 |
4 | Athlos United | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
5 | Diablos FC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 11 |
6 | FCB Sparta | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
7 | Grasshoppers FC | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 7 |
8 | Joras | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 23 | -14 | 7 |
9 | FC Brunton | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 20 | -13 | 6 |
10 | FC Kudlu | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 5 |
11 | FC Lawless | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 21 | -13 | 5 |
12 | Netbusters FC | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 3 |
