I-LEAGUE Media Team

NEW DELHI: Gameweek 7 of the Hero I-League saw Shillong outfit Royal Wahingdoh retain their top spot in the league table even after an away loss against a re-energised Mumbai FC side. Bharat FC also got out of the bottom of the table following their first win of the campaign.

However, the highlight of the Round has been McDowell Mohun Bagan’s massive 4-1 victory against defending champions Bengaluru FC at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Friday evening.

India Captain Sunil Chhetri scored his first goal of the campaign this season, but that didn’t help his side Bengaluru FC record a favourable result against Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in the gameweek.

Haitian forward Sony Norde had a memorable outing in the game, that saw him produce a brilliant performance – which resulted in a brace, as well as him being awarded as the Hero of the Match. Katsumi Yusa and Bikramjit Singh, in the dying minutes, topped the icing on the cake for Sanjoy Sen’s side with a goal each.

The win was remarked by many as Mohun Bagan’s best match of the season so far, as the result saw Sen’s side climb to the third spot in the league table.

Mumbai FC continued their unbeaten run at the Cooperage Ground, winning two games on the trot. They defeated dark horses and front-runners Royal Wahingdoh in the weekend with a 2-1 scoreline.

Bekay Bawar’s opener for the away side in the first half was cancelled by MUM defender Justin Stephen in the second half. Later on, Mohammed Rafi gave the lead to the home side, and from there, Wahingdoh – in spite of trying hard – could not find the equaliser.

It wasn’t a similar fate for RWFC’s Shillong neighbours Lajong, as Thangboi Singto’s side recorded their second victory of the season – this time against Goan giants Dempo in an away match at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda.

Boithang Haokip scored from a world-class free-kick in the match, and the ever-threatening Cornell Glen finished it off with a goal in the later half following a superb individual trick, to record a 2-0 win for Lajong.

Hero I-League debutantes Bharat FC had to wait until the fifth match to record their first win of the season. Getting past Salgaocar FC with a 2-0 result – that too with nine-men on the field – is something Stuart Watkiss’ side can brag about.

Goals from Subhash Singh and Kris Bright sealed the victory for the Pune-based side at the Balewadi Stadium on Sunday evening.

Defender Ravanan Dharmaraj and midfielder Vignesh Gunashekhar received two yellows each, and were asked to leave the field. Salgaocar had the biggest moment of the match in the dying minutes to pull a goal back, but Ivorian schemer Douhou Pierre missed the penalty.

The former Pune FC man hit the ball straight, but Bharat FC Custodian Arindam Bhattacharya stood still and caught the ball comfortably.

Pune FC recorded their second-straight draw of the season, after they were held by rock-bottom Sporting Clube de Goa, at home, with a 1-1 scoreline.

The Red Lizards drew first blood courtesy of in-form Indian striker Thongkhosiem Haokip, but his goal was later cancelled out by Victorino Fernandes.

Top 3 Teams (in order of Ranking):

Royal Wahingdoh FC – 13 points
 

Pune FC – 12 points
 

McDowell Mohun Bagan – 11 points

Top Goalscorer:

Ranti Martins (KEB) – 5 goals from 6 games

Thongkhosiem Haokip (PFC) – 5 goals from 7 games