Here are the games this week, with their reports below (latest match first):
May 08: SC Delhi vs Odisha FC (5pm)
May 09: FC Goa vs Mohun Bagan SG (5pm)
May 09: Jamshedpur FC vs Bengaluru FC (7:30pm)
May 10: Kerala Blasters FC vs Mohammedan SC (5pm)
May 10: NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC (7:30pm)
May 11: East Bengal FC vs Punjab FC (7:30pm)
May 12: Mohun Bagan SG vs Inter Kashi (7:30pm)
East Bengal 0 - 0 Punjab
It's advantage Mohun Bagan (who play Inter Kashi tomorrow) as East Bengal were held to a 0-0 draw by a feisty Punjab side who had the best of the proceedings for vast swathes before East Bengal fought back late in the second half. Punjab created 0.89 xG to EB's 0.78 and had 15 shots to EB's 14.
This late push almost saw EB pip it at the end when Miguel Figueira hit the post from the edge of the Punjab box and Mohammed Rashid's audacious effort from near the midway mark smacked off the crossbar.
The result, though, leaves East Bengal just a point clear of Mohun Bagan at the top - and Bagan play their game in hand tomorrow vs Inter Kashi. Punjab remain sixth on 19th as they missed out on a chance to go top themselves.
Chennaiyin FC 1 - 4 NorthEast United
(Laldinliana R 81'; Jairo Samperio 5', 45+1', Laldinliana R 70' (OG), Lalbiakdika 90)
NorthEast United FC delivered a commanding performance to register a 4-1 victory against Chennaiyin FC.
Jairo Samperio starred with a first-half brace, while an own goal and a late strike from Lalbiakdika sealed an emphatic win for the Highlanders. Jairo Samperio, who opened his Indian Super League account and added a second before half-time, was named Player of the Match for his decisive contribution.
The result sees NorthEast United FC climb to ninth in the standings with 13 points from 12 matches, while Chennaiyin FC remain 13th with nine points from as many games, hovering just above the relegation zone.
After Jairo's goals, NorthEast continued to dominate. A slick team move involving Macarton Nickson and Jithin MS led to a dangerous cutback, and in an attempt to intercept, Chennaiyin defender Laldinliana R inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, extending the lead to 3-0.
Chennaiyin managed to pull one back in the 81st minute when Laldinliana redeemed himself with a well-taken finish following a smart build-up involving Alberto Noguera. However, any hopes of a comeback were short-lived.
NorthEast wrapped up the contest in the 90th minute when substitute Lalbiakdika capitalised on a goalkeeping error, as Nawaz failed to deal with a powerful shot at the near post, allowing the ball to roll into the net.
Kerala Blasters FC 3 - 1 Mohammedan SC
(Francisco Feuillassier 44', Víctor Bertomeu 58', Sreekuttan M S 74' - Mahitosh Roy 42')
Kerala Blasters FC produced a dominant second-half display to secure a 3-1 victory against Mohammedan SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, extending their unbeaten run to five matches in ISL.
Goals from Francisco Feuillassier, Víctor Bertomeu and Sreekuttan MS ensured all three points for the hosts, after Mahitosh Roy had briefly put the visitors ahead. Feuillassier was named the Player of the Match for his influential performance.
Mohammedan struck against the run of play in the 42nd minute. Mahitosh Roy won possession in midfield, surged forward and unleashed a powerful effort from almost 20 yards that flew into the top corner, giving the visitors a surprise lead.
Just two minutes later, Kerala responded through Feuillassier, who latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Yoke and finished calmly into the bottom corner. The Blasters' persistence in the second hald paid off in the 58th minute when Yoke once again turned provider, delivering a precise cross for Bertomeu, who guided a composed header into the net to put the hosts ahead.
Kerala continued to press for a third and the decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute. A well-worked move saw Feuillassier lift a clever ball into the box, where Sreekuttan was perfectly positioned to tap home and make it 3-1.
The result sees Ashley Westwood side move up to eighth in the standings with 14 points from 12 matches, while Mohammedan SC remain rooted to the bottom with just three points from 11 games.
Jamshedpur FC 0 - 1 Bengaluru FC
(Ryan Williams 38')
Jamshedpur FC missed out on going top of the ISL table as they lost 0-1 at home to Bengaluru FC, with Ryan Williams getting the only goal of the game. Jamshedpur are now tied on points with East Bengal and Mohun Bagan at the top of the table, but have played two games more. Pep Munoz' first win as BFC coach saw his side climb to fourth in the table, a point behind JFC.
Jamshedpur and BFC traded early blows but it was the hosts who came closest in the 15th minute when Madih Talal found Raphael Messi Bouli in space in a central area and he let fly, forcing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into a good save. The hosts kept up the pressure and had the ball in the back of the net in the 24th minute, as Pratik Chowdhary tucked in a set-piece delivery from Talal, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The Jamshedpur defender had to be alert at the other end soon after, blocking Ryan Williams' effort on goal. The BFC forward remained the visitor's best outlet, and made Jamshedpur pay for their profligacy in the 39th minute, scoring the opener. Rahul Bheke launched a long ball forward to Lalremtluanga Fanai, and he flicked the ball on with his head into Williams path on the edge of the box. He took a couple of touches before powering a low drive into the bottom corner, leaving Albino Gomes no chance. Jamshedpur remained positive after going behind and forced Gurpreet into a couple more saves but BFC held on for the 1-0 lead at half-time.
Jamshedpur made a fast start in the second half, as they forced Gurpreet into another superb save in the 50th minute. Talal led a fast transition up the pitch and fed Messi Bouli through on goal, but Gurpreet denied the Jamshedpur striker from close range. Mohammed Sanan K remained a threat for the hosts, with Talal pulling the strings, but Jamshedpur were unable to breach a resolute BFC defence as the half wore on. Gurpreet was called on once more in the 89th minute as Messi Bouli burst into the box, but the BFC keeper was alert, and nicked the ball away with his foot just as the JFC striker was about to strike. Owen Coyle's side had won nine points with late goals this season, but BFC held on for seven minutes of injury time and thus, a 1-0 victory.
FC Goa 1 - 1 Mohun Bagan SG
(Ronney Wilson 67' - Jamie Maclaren 55')
Mohun Bagan passed up the chance to go top of the ISL table with a 1-1 draw away to FC Goa, as Jamie Maclaren scored his ninth goal of the season which was cancelled out by Ronney Wilson's fortunate equaliser. The result leaves Bagan level on points with table-toppers East Bengal, but trailing on goal difference. Goa are only a point behind in fourth but have played two games more, so are all but out of title contention.
The first half was a mostly dull affair that could be summed up with the fact that there were more yellow cards (3) than there were shots on target (1). Bagan did dominate the ball with 61% possession, but generated only 0.39 xG from it - mostly potshots from range as Robinho and Liston Colaco toiled. Goa were content to sit back, and only had two attempts in the entire first half as they went into the break goalless.
Half-time substitute Jason Cummings forced Goa's young keeper Bob Jackson into an early save in the second half, and Goa responded with Pol Moreno managing a shot on goal from a set-piece that Tom Aldred did well to clear off the line. That intervention proved crucial as Mohun Bagan took the lead in the 55th minute through a familiar source. Sandesh Jhingan made a mess of controlling a lofted ball, as the ball squirmed underneath his foot and Jamie Maclaren pounced, running through on goal before scoring past Jackson with a controlled finish.
Bagan were firmly in the ascendancy, but Goa kept plugging away, with Udanta Singh forcing Abhishek Tekcham Singh into an error but was unable to create a chance with the ball in the box. Goa did find an equalizer in the 67th minute, but it came absolutely out of nowhere. Dejan Drazic spread the ball wide to substitute Ronney Wilson and his attempt at a cross floated past a wrong-footed Vishal Kaith and into the net.
The game had opened up and both sides traded shots but were unable to find the finishing touch as the game progressed towards the final whistle. Drazic nearly stole a winner in injury time, but Bagan's defence came up with last-ditch blocks to hang on to the draw.
SC Delhi 1 - 2 Odisha FC
(Matija Babovic 74' (P) - Suhair Vadakkepeedika 4', Mafela 13')
Odisha FC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sporting Club Delhi in their Indian Super League tie at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday. Early first-half strikes from Suhair VP and K Lalrinfela (Mafela) gave Odisha FC a commanding lead, rendering Matija Babovic's second-half penalty for SC Delhi a mere consolation. With this vital win, Odisha FC moved into 11th place, leapfrogging Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC. They now have 10 points from 11 matches, while SC Delhi remain in 10th place with the same number of points from 11 matches, staying ahead courtesy of goal difference.
The match began with Odisha FC catching the hosts completely off guard in the opening exchanges. The visitors broke the deadlock in just the four minutes when an unmarked Suhair VP met a perfect cross from Sanathoi Singh Heikrujam and found the back of the net with a header to go 1-0 up. SC Delhi slowly began to claw their way back into the game, but the visitors struck again in the 13th minute after Delhi gave the ball away. Odisha midfielder Lalthathanga Khawlhring (Puitea) delivered a spot-on assist for Mafela, who produced a strong right-footed finish with a grounded shot that rolled into the bottom corner. The strike went past a diving Nora Fernandes to give Odisha FC a 2-0 lead. Trailing by two goals early on, SC Delhi gradually found their footing and began dictating the tempo. The hosts created several chances before the interval, with Lamgoulen Gou and Matija Babovic both registering shots on target, but the Odisha FC defence held firm. Another glorious opportunity came for the hosts just before half-time in the 44th minute when Mohammed Aimen received a brilliant assist from Babovic but failed to convert. The first half ended with Odisha FC maintaining their 2-0 advantage despite SC Delhi's continued pressure.
SC Delhi began the second half with more aggressive intent, introducing Julio Rivas to bolster their attack, however, they were unable to create clear-cut chances initially. Mohammed Aimen tested Odisha FC goalkeeper Anuj Kumar with an effort in the 58th minute, but the visitors managed to protect their two-goal cushion. As frustration grew, the match became increasingly physical, resulting in a flurry of tactical fouls and yellow cards. Odisha FC's Subham Bhattacharya and goalkeeper Anuj Kumar were both booked around the hour mark as they desperately tried to disrupt the hosts' rhythm. The game went on without much incident until the 70th minute when Odisha FC conceded a clear penalty. Puitea handled the ball while attempting to clear it, resulting in a penalty for handball. Matija Babovic stepped up to take the spot-kick in the 74th minute. The forward executed a well-placed penalty with power and precision to pull a goal back for the hosts.
Odisha FC found an opportunity to restore their two-goal advantage in the 79th minute. Substitute Kartik Hantal missed a massive one-on-one opportunity from point-blank range, keeping the home side in the contest. The home side threw everything forward in the closing stages in search of an equaliser, with Julio Rivas and Sourav K both forcing late saves in the 83rd and 89th minutes. As the clock ticked down, Odisha FC looked to retain possession and manage the game to protect their slender lead. Seven minutes of additional time were added, setting up a tense finale. However, Odisha FC withstood the late onslaught, maintaining their defensive discipline. Tempers flared in stoppage time, resulting in late bookings for SC Delhi's Ousmane Fane and Clarence Fernandes. SC Delhi earned a free-kick in the dying moments of the game; however, it posed no threat to the visitors, who successfully saw out the victory.