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The second edition of the Indian Super League was full of goals and it rained goals throughout the tournament. Teams went all out to seal a spot in the semi-finals and played with a lot of freedom in an attempt to try and get wins and improve their goal difference at the same time.While strikers get all the glory for scoring the goals, it’s the wingers who do all the hard work to create them and sometimes get on the end of the passes to score them as well. The final too saw great attacking play, with Chennaiyin FC defeating FC Goa 3-2. Here, we take a look at the top 5 wingers in the Indian Super League this season:
#1 Sameehg Doutie
Atletico de Kolkata finished the group stages in a comfortable 2nd spot and Doutie played an important role in getting them there. After they lost three games mid-season, they had to change things up in terms of the way they were working and Sameehg Doutie’s introduction into the team helped them change their fortunes.
Earlier, Atletico de Kolkata boss Antonio Habas was going more with other established players to start games, but following their mid-season slump, he was ready to experiment and the South African was given a chance to impress.
He surprised everyone with his performances and effectiveness and scored 3 goals and gave 6 assists in the 12 appearances he made. The South African winger was one of the best players in the league due to his consistently brilliant performances, and helped his team reach the semi-finals, where they lost out to Chennaiyin FC 4-2.
#2 Sony Norde
Sony Norde has been one of the few players who have peformed well for Mumbai City FC this season. The team who are currently 7th in the Indian Super League haven’t had the best of times of late and Norde has been one of their better performers.
The Haitian international scored 3 goals and gave 3 assists in twelve appearances for Mumbai City since joining them at the start of the season. He displayed great touch and form and was a nightmare for defenders to deal with. He also took 26 shots on target in the league, making him an added threat apart from being just a regular winger.
The 26-year-old started his career at Argentine club Boca Juniors, but only managed to play for their reserve side. He then played for Estudiantes de Altamira in Brazil and Sheikh Russel & Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi in Bangaldesh.
Norde joined I-league giants Mohun Bagan last season, and won the league with them, scoring 9 goals in 19 appearances. He has made 20 appearances for the Haiti national side, scoring thrice.
#3 Arata Izumi
Arata Izumi had a brilliant start to his career at Atletico de Kolkata. The 33-year-old scored five goals in the eleven games he played for defending champions Atletico de Kolkata. Though Izumi was in and out of the team due to injury, he made a solid impact for the defending champions when he played.
Although he isn’t a winger naturally, he made the left-flank his own when he started matches for them and linked up well with Hume and Doutie, doing well to make up for the absence of Helder Postiga. The combination of composure and inventiveness he offered added something unique to the Atletico offense and made him a vital player for them.
Izumi started his senior career in Singapore with Albirex Niigata Singapore of the S.League and eventually joined I-league giants East Bengal. He then moved to Mahindra United with whom he won the Durand Cup, but his best form came during his time at Pune City FC for whom he has made more than 100 appearances.
#4 Sanju Pradhan
The Sikkim-born winger, who played for defending champions Atletico de Kolkata last season, was allowed to sign for NorthEast United this season, and it turned out to be a brilliant signing for the Highlanders.
Sanju impressed a lot playing on the wing for Cesar Farias’ side who fought hard to seal their place in the playoffs. The 26-year-old gave 3 assists in the 11 appearances he made for them and tormented opposition defences with his pace, direct running and crossing. He also contributed defensively for his team in the wide areas, and his work rate was impressive too.
Sanju Pradhan is a youth product of Sports Academy of Sikkim, and he started his senior career at Air India where he started to make his mark. He was then signed by Kolkata giants East Bengal, where he spent 5 seasons before moving to Dempo. He was also part of the Indian national team that won the Nehru Cup in 2012.
#5 Mandar Rao Dessai
Mandar Rao Dessai was an integral part of FC Goa’s brilliant attacking performances this season, scoring three goals and assisting two in the 15 appearances he made for them. Dessai caused problems for defenders with his direct running and pace. He also passed the ball really well, and dribbled past opponents with exemplary ease.
The 23-year-old is a youth product of Goa based I-league club Dempo, and also started his senior career there before joining FC Goa in the Indian Super League.
His brilliant performances for FC Goa earned him a call up from national team coach Stephen Constantine in June, 2015, but is yet to make his debut for the national side. He also captained Goa-India at the 2014 Lusofonia Games in Goa and won the Gold Medal.
