As the Indian Super League rolls on, Match Week 5 served up a buffet of excitement, hilarity, and utter bewilderment.
From defensive fortresses to attacking blunders, this week had it all.
If you missed the action, don’t worry for we have compiled the highlights (and lowlights) into a delightfully sarcastic recap.
So grab your popcorn and prepare for some chuckles as we dive into the chaos of this week’s matches.
Northeast United vs. Chennaiyin FC: The comeback kids
Chennaiyin FC managed to pull off a nail-biting 3-2 victory against NorthEast United FC, proving once again that it’s never too late to wake up and smell the coffee.
After a dismal start that saw NorthEast take an early lead, Chennaiyin decided that a little bit of urgency wouldn’t hurt.
Wilmar Jordan’s brace and Lukas Brambilla’s penalty had the visitors cruising, even as NorthEast’s defense played a lovely game of hide-and-seek, losing track of their opponents with alarming regularity.
With a late penalty from Alaaeddine Ajaraie providing a glimmer of hope, it was almost as if they thought the clock would magically reset.
But alas, Chennaiyin took the three points and left the Highlanders to ponder.
Bengaluru FC vs. Punjab FC: Defenders assemble!
Bengaluru FC continued their “defend at all costs” approach with a thrilling 1-0 win over Punjab FC, earning their fifth consecutive clean sheet.
Naorem Roshan Singh’s first-half strike was all it took, as the Blues’ defense once again held strong, ensuring they remained at the top of the table with no goals conceded in 450 minutes of play.
Even when Chinglensana Singh was sent off in the second half, Punjab FC still couldn’t crack the Gurpreet-Sandhu-powered fortress.
The best they could manage was a crossbar hit from Mushaga Bakenga in the 74th minute, leaving Bengaluru FC’s clean sheet record intact.
Because when you have Gurpreet in goal, who needs more than one goal to win?
FC Goa vs. Mumbai City FC: Different day, same old story
Why settle for drama when you can stretch out a winning streak?
Mumbai City FC decided to continue their tradition of not losing to FC Goa, extending their unbeaten run to 13 games.
Two goals in the first half were enough because apparently, they like to get things done early.
Nikolas Karelis headed one in after a perfectly served free kick, and then Yoell van Nieff thought, ‘Why not?’ and launched a long-range shot that gleefully embraced the net.
FC Goa, bless their hearts, tried to get back into the game after Armando Sadiku scored from the penalty spot.
Valpuia gave away that penalty, probably just to keep things interesting.
But even with inspired substitutions and a few near-misses, FC Goa still couldn’t crack the code.
East Bengal vs. Mohun Bagan: The zero-point club
And just like that, East Bengal FC cannot quite find a way to get off the mark despite sniffing the grass for five games.
Yes, zero.
The Kolkata Derby once again swung in favor of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, as the Mariners cruised to a 2-0 win, their eighth victory over the Red & Gold Brigade in the ISL.
Mohun Bagan didn’t just win; they controlled the game from start to finish.
Jamie Maclaren and Dimitrios Petratos took care of the goals, one in each half because apparently, East Bengal had no plans of scoring themselves.
Despite a valiant effort from Prabhsukhan Gill, who spent the entire match stopping shots from becoming a full-blown disaster, it wasn’t enough to save East Bengal from their now-familiar fate.
Unfortunate scenes unfolded as bottles, wooden logs, and stones were thrown by Mohammedan supporters after a penalty decision was disallowed by the referee in their match against Kerala Blasters FC. 😳🤦🏻♂️
📽️ : Video Credits to the rightful owner#ISL #MSCKBFC #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/ae9LDjC3kc
— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) October 20, 2024
Mohammedan vs. Kerala Blasters: Fans gone wild!
Well, what’s a football match without a little chaos, right?
During the Mohammedan Sporting vs. Kerala Blasters game, the fans decided the real action wasn’t on the pitch but in the stands.
Sticks, stones, bottles—you name it—were hurled onto the field as if they contributed bonus points to the home team.
Oh, and let’s not forget the special touch of throwing wooden logs. Because why not?
Apparently, the lack of a penalty call was the trigger for this spontaneous fan-fueled carnival.
Some Mohammedan fans even took the liberty to climb the fence because, you know, sitting is overrated and making your presence felt could influence the referee.
To top it all off, bottles filled with urine made an appearance on the pitch because clearly, football without bathroom humor is just too mainstream.
Jamshedpur FC vs. Hyderabad FC: Tactical blunders aplenty
Jamshedpur FC squeaked past Hyderabad FC with a 2-1 victory, making the Men of Steel look more like the Men of Nerves as they claimed second place in the league.
Goals from Rei Tachikawa and Jordan Murray had them cruising, while Cy Goddard’s lone strike marked Hyderabad’s first goal of the season—though it felt more like a consolation prize than a rallying cry for a team still searching for their first win.
In a battle of two Indian coaches, the match itself resembled a tactical chess game, with both teams taking turns to fumble through the first half.
While Jamshedpur’s defense seemed to enjoy a cozy chat with the ball, Hyderabad’s attacking efforts were as sharp as a butter knife, inadequate at best.
And there you have it, folks! Match Week 5 served up a delightful concoction of triumphs, blunders, and baffling fan behavior.
We can’t wait for what the following week churns out.
Stay tuned for more thrilling antics in the ISL!