Matchweek 19 of the Indian Super League (ISL) proved to be a goal-scoring extravaganza, with a total of 26 goals scored across six thrilling matches.

Mumbai City FC maintained their position at the top of the league table after the final round of matches, while Mohun Bagan SG moved up to the second spot, tied on points with the Islanders but having an inferior goal difference.

This action-packed matchweek featured six entertaining fixtures, with only Chennaiyin FC failing to make it onto the scoresheet. Among the standout performers were forwards Dimitrios Diamantakos and Armando Sadiku, who both found the net twice and Vikram Partap Singh, who secured his first ISL hat-trick, becoming the sixth Indian and the second youngest player to achieve this milestone.

Hyderabad FC kicked off the matchweek with their much-awaited victory against Chennaiyin FC. In the Kolkata derby, the Mariners continued their unbeaten run over arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the ISL.

On Monday, Punjab FC played out a 3-3 draw against Manolo Marquez’s FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

In the very next game, the Islanders eased past NorthEast United FC, outplaying the Highlanders by a 4-1 scoreline, courtesy of Vikram Partap Singh’s hat-trick that propelled Petr Kratky’s men to the top of the table.

In the penultimate game of this week, Mohun Bagan SG kept up their unbeaten run in the ISL 2023–24 season since the appointment of Antonio Habas as their head coach, as they edged past Kerala Blasters FC in a seven-goal thriller in Kochi.

To wrap up this matchweek, FC Goa secured a comeback victory against Bengaluru FC with a 2-1 scoreline at home.

As the dust settles on matchweek 19, which was highlighted by a flurry of goals and individual brilliance, let’s delve into the key takeaways from the week gone by.

Hyderabad FC registered their first victory in ISL 10

Defender Sajad Parray's 90th-minute goal from a set-piece situation helped Hyderabad FC secure a victory over Chennaiyin FC, putting an end to their 18-match winless streak in the ISL 2023–24 season. This win also made Thangboi Singto’s team the first to win an ISL game by fielding all Indian players.

Throughout the match, Chennaiyin FC launched numerous attacks from both flanks, creating several goal-scoring opportunities. However, their failure to convert these chances dealt a significant blow to their playoff aspirations.

After the match, Hyderabad FC head coach Thangboi Singto shared his delight with his players’ performance by saying, “In the first half, we were nowhere in terms of the game. I won't say (they) stream rolled, but we were just defending.”

“Of course, that one shot from Rabeeh hit the bar and dropped back, but apart from that, I think we didn't really create (any chances), but the effort was there. Sometimes, in football, you are rewarded for your hard work even if you don't play well. Ultimately, hard work paid off. We are very happy for the boys more than anyone else,” he continued.

Mohun Bagan SG displayed their dominance once again in the Kolkata Derby

East Bengal FC, after claiming their first-ever point in the Kolkata derby in the first leg in February, have once again succumbed to a heavy defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Mohun Bagan SG.

The Mariners put on a dominant performance in the opening half, which started with Vishal Kaith denying the Red and Gold captain Cleiton Silva from the spot. Mohun Bagan SG scored a hat-trick of goals in the opening half of the high-octane clash, propelling the Mariners to continue their unbeaten run against East Bengal FC in the ISL. Jason Cummings, Liston Colaco, and Dimitri Petratos found their names on the scoresheet, while Saul Crespo scored the consolation goal for the Red and Gold Brigade in the second half as the match ended with a 3-1 scoreline in the Mariners’ favour.

Despite trailing by a 3-0 scoreline, Carles Cuadrat’s men showed their grit and sheer determination throughout the second half of the match but couldn’t score more than one past the resilient Mohun Bagan SG defence. Notably, with his goal and an assist, Petratos has equalled Roy Krishna’s record of having the most goal contributions (5) in the Kolkata Derby.

The Shers roar again!

FC Goa became the fourth team to secure a spot in the playoff round after salvaging a draw against Punjab FC in a thrilling six-goal encounter. Despite having numerous clear-cut chances to extend their lead, the Gaurs went into halftime with only a 1-0 advantage over the hosts.

However, the Shers put on a remarkable display in the second half, netting three goals in quick succession through effective combination play among their attacking players. Wilmar Jordan Gil, Luka Majcen, and Juan Mera found the back of the net for Punjab FC, while Noah Sadaoui’s converted spot-kick and Carlos Martinez’s simple tap-in ensured FC Goa shared the points in this high-scoring affair.

Vikram Partap Singh is in the form of his life

Mumbai City FC’s young sensation, Vikram Partap Singh, continues to shine brightly as he scored his first ISL hat trick against NorthEast United FC, becoming the second youngest Indian to achieve this feat after Kiyan Nassiri. The winger, who is enjoying a stellar season thus far, now boasts the highest number of goal contributions as an Indian in the ISL 2023–24 season.

For the Islanders, Yoell Van Nieff also notched his first ISL goal from the spot-kick, while NorthEast United FC managed to pull one goal back courtesy of Jithin MS’s composed finish.

After the match, Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Kratky had words of praise for his young Indian forward, Vikram Partap Singh, commending his performance by saying, "I’m very happy with the performance and also the scoresheet, with Vikram scoring a hat-trick. I’m very happy for him.”

In-form Mohun Bagan SG silenced houseful Kochi

Having seen action twice during this matchweek, the Mariners emerged victorious on both occasions. Habas’s men extended their impressive seven-match unbeaten run into the game against Kerala Blasters FC, where they prevailed over the Yellow Army with a 4-3 scoreline in an away fixture.

For Mohun Bagan SG, Armando Sadiku scored a brace, while Deepak Tangri and Jason Cummings added to their lead. Greek forward Dimitrios Diamantakos managed to level the scoreline twice, but it wasn't enough to avoid defeat as they lost by a single-goal margin.

The 66-year-old Spaniard was highly praised for securing three points in front of thousands of passionate Kerala Blasters FC supporters.

Speaking in this context, he said, "We had too much pressure from the supporters, too much pressure from the match because we played against East Bengal FC three days ago, and it was a very intense match in the derby. And now travel and many other things. In the end, I would have preferred to win 4-0, but in 4-3, we got the three points, which is more important.”

Bengaluru FC’s away drought continues

Despite taking an early lead in the game with a goal from Shivaldo Chingambam Singh, the Blues ultimately conceded two goals, one in each half. This unfortunate turn of events extended Bengaluru FC's winless streak to 10 away games in the ISL 2023–24 season. Odei Onaindia and Boris Singh found the net for the hosts as FC Goa clinched their second victory in their last eight matches, making their second appearance of this matchweek.

During the post-match press conference, Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza emphasized the importance of securing maximum points from their upcoming home games to keep alive their hopes of clinching the final playoff spot.

“Congratulations to FC Goa for the three points. We go home thinking that we need to win the last three matches. We are Bengaluru FC. We’ll play (the next match) in Kanteerava. We will push hard,” he opined.

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