It was a decisive week in the cash riched Indian Super League (ISL) as three of the semi-final spots were sealed with defending champions Atletico de Kolkata, Delhi Dynamos and FC Goa ensuring their places in the play-offs.
The eighth week of the ISL started with Chennaiyin FC, who are still in with a shout to make the play-offs, thumping Delhi; and NorthEast United FC, who also have a slim chance of making it to the semis, getting a very good point away from home at FC Goa.
Kerala Blasters added more misery to Mumbai City FC’s season as they netted a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw, which was the end of semi-final dreams for both the teams.
Watching his team under-perform throughout the season, former France striker and Mumbai's marquee player cum manager, Nicolas Anelka, admitted he is likely to be on the move once more after the team failed to qualify for the knock-out stages.
Anelka also slammed Mumbai City FC's management for not giving him a free hand during the transfers and blamed lack of quality for team's under-performance.
FC Pune City, who once looked certain to the play-offs, saw their campaign hitting downhill when an Iain Hume-inspired Atletico de Kolkata handed them a 4-1 thrashing away from home. With that win ATK became the first team to make it to the semis.
The week also saw Delhi Dynamos bouncing back in some style to reach the last-four stage after being thrashed by Chennaiyin FC. They cruised past NEUFC to book their place in the semis.
FC Goa's erratic play delayed their qualification for the play-offs earlier in the week but like Delhi, they too came back in superb style against Kerala.
Brazilian striker Reinaldo struck a hat-trick in a 5-1 mauling of Kerala Blasters to confirm their place in the play-offs. This is second season in a row that Goa have made it to the semis.
Now with just few games remaining before the knockouts start, every match is going to be crucial for Chennai, NorthEast and Pune; and a defeat can cost the teams a semi-final spot. Meanwhile, let's look through how the last seven days in the league panned out.
Atletico de Kolkata peaking at right time
Kolkata hosted FC Pune City and nothing less than a win for the defending champions against Pune, who they had never beaten before, would have secured a playoffs qualification for the home side. And they did that in some style.
Hume struck his second hat-trick of the season to help ATK become the first team to seal a semifinal berth as they thrashed Pune 4-1. They have 23 points from 13 matches and are top of the table.
Delhi Dynamos look solid
Delhi Dynamos have largely been the consistent in the tournament this season. They've managed to pick up points throughout and never let a bad result hurt them. They have not once lost back-to-back matches this season. After narrowly missing the semi-final spot last season, Roberto Carlos' side made sure that there are no hiccups this time around.
Although the week started pretty badly for them as they were thumped by Chennai 4-0, the Dynamos made sure they are the better team against NEUFC and a 2-1 win handed them the semi-final spot with still two games in their hand. They have 21 points from 12 matches and a win in next two matches can see them top the group stage.
FC Goa: One thing is certain when it comes to FC Goa - they always go out and attack thanks to the philosophy of their legendary coach Zico. The week started badly as they were held to a 1-1 draw by NorthEast. Up next were bottom side Kerala Blasters and a defeat their could have hampered their chances of making it to the semis. But a convincing 3-1 win, thanks to a hat-trick from Brazilian striker Reinaldo, saw them jump to the second spot with 22 points from 13 matches. They are also in with a shout of topping the group stage.
The curious case of Nicolas Anelka
The Frenchman's cribbing and frustration with the club management put Mumbai's campaign in jeopardy and the club is currently at the second-last place in the ISL table with no chance of making it to the last-four stage.
Anelka criticized star striker Sunil Chettri along with other Indian players. He launched a verbal attack on the team management and Chhetri in a press-conference saying that if he had a choice and chance to choose the players, he would have chosen different players and that he doesn’t have a lot of quality (in the team).
Anelka also made it clear that he had nothing to do with picking the team and if anyone wants to question about the players, they better ask the people who signed the players, not him. The ex-Chelsea player also added that it's he who decides where the players play and for him Chettri is best on the wings and not as a No. 10 striker.
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