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The second season of the Hero Indian Super League came to an explosive end, with the tournament winners being decided in the very last minutes of the match. The quality of the play in the second season was of a much higher standard compared to the first and the league was much more competitive this season compared to the first one.A big step up though was seen in the number of goals scored which rose considerably from season one. Season Two saw seven hat-tricks as compared to one in the first season and the strikers have made a big step up from season one.There were goals all over the ISL in its second coming and here are the best strikers from ISL Season two:
#5 Antonio German (6 goals in 9 matches for Kerala Blasters)
Antonio German was at the centre of most of the positive things which happened for the Kerala Blasters in ISL Season Two. The Englishman forged a potent partnership with Chris Dagnall as the duo often produced the fireworks for the Blasters upfront.
German gave Kerala a great send-off when he scored in the final game of the season to earn a credible 3-3 draw away to the Delhi Dynamos. He was also in place to score a late equaliser against Mumbai City FC in Mumbai.
The man was a constant threat for Kerala Blasters upfront under the management of Terry Phelan and made the opponents take notice of his abilities. His performances attracted interest from several I-League clubs like East Bengal, but he rejected their advances for a career in Europe.
However, it is likely that German will return to the ISL after delivering such a stunning performance in the ISL this season.
#4 Sunil Chhetri (7 goals in 11 matches for Mumbai City FC)
The Indian National Team captain made his debut in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) this season with Mumbai City FC and India’s all-time leading goal scorer didn’t disappoint and was one of the brightest spots in Mumbai City’s season. Chhetri helped Mumbai to three wins in a row in October as he scored six times in three games, which included a hat-trick against NorthEast United.
His hat-trick against the Highlanders was the first one by an Indian in ISL history and it became a marker of the improved performance of the Indian players in ISL season two. Frequent change in playing positions and call-ups to the national team disrupted Sunil Chhetri’s form.
But, Chhetri picked up as the season ended and scored in the final game of the season to help Mumbai to their first ever away win in the ISL history against Atletico de Kolkata
#3 Reinaldo (7 goals in 11 matches for FC Goa)
FC Goa’s big signing upfront was yet another import from Brazil in the shape of Reinaldo da Cruz Oliviera. The Brazilian netted in the opening game for FC Goa but went off the boil in the season as injury took its toll on the thirty-six-year-old Brazilian striker.
Reinaldo returned against Mumbai City FC and got on the score sheet scoring The Gaurs’ seventh goal in a 7-0 drubbing.
But, that proved to be the tonic the Brazilian needed to get his season going. He netted a hat-trick in FC Goa’s 5-1 win in Kerala and was involved in all the other goals on that evening.
Reinaldo didn’t score in the final game of the league stage against Delhi Dynamos, but made a telling contribution as Zico’s men came from 2-0 down to win the game 3-2 in Delhi. Though he didn't play any part in the final, he was Goa’s chief goal threat going into the match, having scored seven goals in eleven games.
#2 Iain Hume (11 goals in 16 matches for Atletico de Kolkata)
Atletico de Kolkata replaced the outgoing Fikru with Canadian Iain Hume from Kerala Blasters ahead of the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL). Head Coach Antonio Habas planned to use him as a midfielder, but Helder Postiga’s injury forced Habas to push the Canadian upfront. Hume struggled to get the goals early on as Atletico de Kolkata fell to three straight defeats.
After coming under heavy criticism for his lack of goals, Hume answered his critics in style as he scored a hat-trick against Mumbai City FC, helping them end their losing streak and get his team’s season back on track. Hume’s season took off from there and the Canadian center forward managed to score ten goals this season which included yet another hat-trick against FC Pune City in a 4-1 win at the Salt Lake Stadium which confirmed Atletico’s progress to the semi-final.
Though he did score a brilliant goal in the second leg of the semi-final against Chennaiyin, he couldn't prevent his team from going out of the tournament.
#1 John Stiven Mendoza (13 goals in 16 matches for Chennaiyin FC)
The top predator in the Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC’s John Stiven Mendoza has just been unplayable on his day. Scoring for fun, Mendoza has registered thirteen times in sixteen appearances for Chennaiyin FC. After a slightly slow start for Mendoza and Chennaiyin, the Colombian came to the party after scoring a hat-trick against FC Goa in Goa as Chennaiyin FC posted their first win of the season.
He never really looked back and continued his scoring spree throughout the season and scored his second hat-trick of the season against Kerala Blasters to kick-start Chennaiyin’s campaign.
Mendoza was instrumental in Chennaiyin’s late revival as his assists along with the vital goals helped Chennaiyin FC make the semi-finals. Mendoza also scored in the semi-final first leg as the team from Chennai hammered Atletico de Kolkata 3-0 to put his team on course for the Final. He was good in the second leg as well as the team from Chennai confirmed their place in the final.
However, it was in the final that he made the biggest impact, scoring the decisive goal and helping his team win 3-2 to become Champions of season two of the Indian Super League.
