Top Five Games in the I-League so far

With I-League 2012-13 past its halfway stage now, Sportskeeda reviews the season by listing the top five games so far.

United Sikkim 3-2 Salgaocar

This was a historic day for Sikkim, as for the first time a club from that region was playing in the I-League, and it turned out to be a perfect occasion as United Sikkim came from behind twice to beat two-time champions Salgaocar 3-2. Their club co-owner and player, the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia didn’t play any part as he was involved with the match organisation, and early nerves seem to get the better of the I-League debutants as they fell behind to an Angel Guirado strike at the start of the second half. Nurudeen Salau restored parity but Milagres Gonsalves once again gave Salgaocar the lead. However, the backing of a near packed Paljor Stadium in Gangtok inspired a United Sikkim comeback, as Lineker Machado made it 2-2 and Sandesh Jhingan’s strike turned out to be the winner as the Sikkim club announced their arrival in top division with a thrilling win.

Air India 3-3 United Sikkim

By now Bhaichung Bhutia had taken over as interim coach of United Sikkim following the removal of Belgian coach Phillipe De Ridder after suffering a 10-1 hammering against Prayag United. This was Bhaichung’s third game in charge, having managed a point in the first two. Going into the game, the former India captain stated that too many penalties were being awarded against his side and his fears came true as Air India were given two spot-kicks. They took the lead from the first of those penalties through Junior Elijah but a brace from Nurudeen Salau put United Sikkim in the driving seat. The scoring didn’t end there as there were three goals in the last five minutes. First, Gagandeep Singh equalised for Air India before Anwar Ali restored United Sikkim’s lead in the 90th minute. However Air India would snatch a point thanks to another Junior penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Salgaocar 1-2 Dempo

This Goan derby only produced three goals but there was plenty of entertainment with both sides creating and wasting chances and the result summed up their respective seasons. Former EPL player Rohan Ricketts, who fell out with Dempo coach Armando Colaco, got a rare start due to several injuries and suspensions and the ex-Arsenal and Tottenham man made the most of it by opening the scoring with a well placed shot from long range. Former Australia U-20 World Cupper Sean Rooney equalised for Salgaocar with a thumping header. It was an end-to-end game and either side could have won it, but typically Salgaocar conceded as Ricketts set up Ryuji Sueoka for the winner. But for both Ricketts and Rooney it turned out to be their last goals in Indian football as they were both released by their clubs, for different reasons of course.

Prayag United 2-3 Mumbai FC

Mumbai FC have two entries in this list, both being five-goal thrillers, and this occasion they were on the right end of it. High-spenders Prayag United were under pressure coming into this game as they had lost to Churchill Brothers at home in their previous game and new coach Eelco Schattorie was expected to get three points from this. They got off to the perfect start as top scorer Ranti Martins put them in front close at the half-hour mark. Mumbai FC on other hand were in good form prior to this game, as they were on a four-match unbeaten run, and their confidence showed in the second half as Evans Quao equalised, and although Prayag had their chances, the visitors deservingly took the lead through Abhishek Yadav. A goal in the second minute of stoppage time from substitute Sankar Oraon looked to have given Prayag a point but their former player Yusif Yakubu had the last laugh, as he netted the winner in the 94th minute.

Pailan Arrows 3-2 Mumbai FC

It took 24 games for the Arrows to get their first I-League win in 2011-12, but this season they managed it in their first game. Head coach Arthur Papas was away in Australia to sort out his visa issues, but his young side, who were unbeaten in their Durand Cup and Federation Cup campaigns, gave a mature performance to edge out Mumbai FC 3-2. The AIFF’s developmental side went in front through Holicharan Narzary, who capitalised on some poor goalkeeping from Mumbai FC’s Sanjiban Ghosh. His Arrows counterpart Ravi Kumar returned the favour by gifting ND Opara the equaliser and Mumbai went in front after a brilliant curling shot from S James Singh. Despite going behind, the Arrows outfit didn’t lose heart and showed great character to come back in second half. Milan Singh converted a spot-kick while Holicharan bagged the winner after another howler by Sanjiban.