ISL 2023-24: Phurba Lachenpa comes of age with Golden Glove prize
A detailed look at this season's best man between the posts
Phurba Lachenpa, the talented goalkeeper of Mumbai City FC, has been a crucial player for his side in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-2024 season. He has started in every match he played, and his consistent performance has been instrumental in his team's success.
Lachenpa has made some remarkable saves throughout the season, displaying his exceptional reflexes and agility on the field. He has kept a clean sheet in several matches, proving his remarkable defensive abilities. He has also communicated effectively with his teammates, guiding them to maintain a strong defensive line.
His leadership in the back and unwavering determination have been one of the driving forces behind his team's victories, and he has truly been a standout performer for the Islanders this season. Consequently, Mumbai City FC triumphed in the ISL Cup final, and Lachenpa's exceptional contributions have been a significant factor in this achievement.
Indeed, Lachenpa has proved to be an exceptional goalkeeper in the league. Despite facing certain challenges, such as receiving two yellow cards and one red card, he maintained his focus and has continued to work hard towards his goals. His relentless pursuit of excellence and his unwavering commitment to his team is truly remarkable and evident that he possesses a strong championship mentality that contributes to the success of his club.
The Journey
Lachenpa's journey this season began with the Islanders playing against Ivan Vukomanovic's Kerala Blasters FC at home. During the game, the Sikkim native made three quick saves inside the box and only conceded one goal in the entire 90 minutes. As a result of his efforts, the Islanders won the game by a one-goal margin.
He delivered his finest performances of the season against three formidable opponents - Gerald Zaragoza's Bengaluru FC, Manolo Marquez's FC Goa, and Owen Coyle's Chennaiyin FC. He commanded the goalpost in both home and away fixtures against all three teams, securing clean sheets in five out of six possible matches against them.
During the playoffs, Lachenpa showed his mettle by keeping another clean sheet against the Gaurs in the semi-finals. He put up an impressive performance by conceding only three goals in Islanders' three playoff matches, including the finals. While it wasn't his best outing during the final, he managed to play a crucial role in ushering his team to victory and claiming the title of this season's ISL Cup winners
Season Impact
The 26-year-old played a fundamental part in his team's successful title-winning campaign this season. He demonstrated his exceptional skills in 22 matches, making a remarkable 148 recoveries that significantly contributed to the team's defensive efforts. Furthermore, he successfully completed 146 distributions that helped to maintain the game's momentum. Throughout the season, Lachenpa played for a total of 1842 minutes, making 42 saves with a save rate of 71%, managing to make 12 punches, and six successful collections, showcasing his excellent reflexes and goalkeeping abilities.
Undoubtedly, the goalkeeper's biggest contribution to this season's title-winning run was keeping 9 clean sheets. As a result, he took home the coveted Golden Glove award. During his outings, he only conceded 17 goals out of a total of 179 shots faced. This impressive performance helped him secure the prize and earn acclaim for his excellent skills.