Hero Indian Super League 2015 has seen its fair share of goals as it nears the 100-goal mark with still plenty of games remaining in the league phase. Season 2 has seen the net bulge on 99 occasions after 38 matches, putting it well on course to eclipse last year’s tally of 129 for the entire season. In fact, there have been just two games when neither side managed to get on the score-sheet, bearing testimony to this season’s free-flowing attacking brand of football.

Scoring is considered the most difficult thing to do in football. But what is often forgotten is no matter how clinical a scorer might be, he cannot possibly find the back of the net without any proper service. Few footballers would even say that they get more delight from creating a goal than scoring one. And Hero ISL 2015 has had its fair share of ball-playing playmakers that fit into that bracket. Let’s take a look at the top chance creators who pull the strings from midfield and carve open the opposition defences.

Florent Malouda – The Frenchman has settled into his role in the Delhi Dynamos FC team seamlessly. Malouda already has five assists to his name which is the most by any player in a single Hero ISL season. The 35-year-old has made the killer pass for five of Delhi’s eight goals this year .

Elano – Last season’s Golden boot winner hasn’t seemed to miss a beat this year, picking up where he had left off by creating more opportunities for Chennaiyin FC than any other player in the team. Colombian hitman Stiven Mendoza has been the beneficiary of Elano’s four assists. Following defeats in the first two matches, Chennai needed a win badly and Elano was instrumental in their 4-0 win against FC Goa with two assists for Mendoza. In the next match against Mumbai City FC, he again provided Mendoza with another assist in the 2-0 win. Against FC Pune City in a 2-1 win, he once again helped Mendoza swell his goal tally. These have been the only wins for Chennai this season, so one can understand how important he is to the Super Machans’ prospects. Besides, the Brazilian has himself scored four times, thus featuring him in eight goals out of a total of 12.

Joffre – FC Goa will be hoping for the return of their influential playmaker Joffre to full fitness sooner rather than later. Joffre has been his side’s most creative spark going forward and has provided three assists to go along with the innumerable chances created by him. He averages the best assists per match ratio by providing three assists in his five outings for FC Goa so far.

Josu – The 22-year-old Spaniard’s footballing education is reflected in his guile on the ball and an eye for a defence-splitting pass. A former La Masia graduate, Josu is the man in the centre of Kerala Blasters FC midfield who keeps the ball ticking. Not only has he made more passes than anyone in his side, his tally of three assists is the most by any Kerala player. Kerala need Josu to be on the top of his game as they look to make a late surge into the semis.

Sony Norde – An absolute livewire on the pitch, Sony Norde cannot be kept out of the game as he poses a constant threat on Mumbai City FC’s flanks. The Haitian’s blistering pace has afforded him the freedom to attempt more take-ons than any other Hero ISL star. His ability to find men in the box from the wings has seen him make three assists this year and Mumbai City FC will be keen to have him back soon from national duty.With 23 games still to go this season, we can definitely expect plenty more goals to come. What will be interesting to see, however, is that if these same individuals will reign supreme on the top of the assists charts or if other contenders will come to the fore in contention for the crown of Hero ISL’s “Assist King”.