One of the highlights of Hero Indian Super League 2016 has been the number of draws this year. The opening 27 matches of the season have seen 17 results as opposed to 23 and 18 results seen in Hero ISL 2015 and Hero ISL 2014 respectively at the same stage. Upon closer inspection, however, another fascinating development comes to our attention.There have been 11 away wins in Hero ISL 2016, which is almost double the number of home wins (6) this season. The inaugural season witnessed 12 home wins and six away victories and last year saw 15 home wins and eight away triumphs at the same stage. The sudden spike in 'away wins' this year can be chalked up to a combination of factors. While there is the added pressure of pleasing your home support and not losing in front of them, the hosts' inability to create openings has also come to the light.That, along with the away sides' ability to soak up pressure and hit the home team on the counter, has combined to create a unique scenario where teams are winning more matches away from home for the first time in the history of the league. The fact that Delhi Dynamos FC, FC Pune City and FC Goa are still to register their first win at home this season adds substance to this new trend.The remaining five teams have collectively accounted for just six home wins with NorthEast United FC leading the way with two home wins, while Atlético de Kolkata, Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters FC have notched up one win at home so far.Mumbai City are one of three teams this season - besides Delhi and ATK - to have notched up two away wins, which is more than what they managed over the entirety of the past two seasons.NorthEast United FC are the only team to collect more points (six out of 10) at home this season than on their travels. Even they seem to be running out of luck at home, however, if their past few matches at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium are anything to go by. All in all with everything factored in, it is safe to say Hero ISL 2016 has dispelled the myth of home advantage in football to a significant extent.
