The Road to 100: A look back at Hero ISL 2018-19's milestone goals
The Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 has been an enthralling journey so far. Old heroes have returned, new champions have been born, and fans have been treated with some of the best attacking football the league has ever seen in its five-year history.


The Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 has been an enthralling journey so far. Old heroes have returned, new champions have been born, and fans have been treated with some of the best attacking football the league has ever seen in its five-year history. This year's rendition of India's biggest football extravaganza recently reached the coveted 100-goal milestone after just 34 matches - a new Hero ISL record.
To put the achievement into perspective, the inaugural and the third season took 46 matches, the second season took 39 matches and the fourth season took 38 matches to breach the magical 100-goal mark.
The 100th
It was Kerala Blasters FC's Nikola Krcmarevic who grabbed the landmark goal during on Sunday's match against FC Goa. With his side 3-0 down, Krcmarevic's strike in stoppage time might have been just a consolation goal for his team but will be etched in history for being the 100th goal of Hero ISL 2018-19. Kerala captain Sandesh Jhingan put in a nice low cross inside the Goa box from the right and Krcmarevic's desire to get to the ball first had the Goa defenders beat. The Serbian's deft touch took the ball past Goa goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz into the net.
With the landmark-goal in the bag, here's a look back at some of the milestone goals which came about during the journey.
Goal 1: The ‘one’ that ‘Matej’
Fans didn't have to wait long for the first goal of this season - 77 minutes to be exact. After a goalless first-half in the opening match between ATK and Kerala, Matej Poplatnik made sure he entered the Hero ISL record books on his debut. The Serbian forward reacted well to get on the end of his teammate Slavisa Stojanovic's deflected shot and headed in the maiden goal.
Goal 25: El Silver
Two-time Hero ISL champions ATK had a forgettable start to the season, slumping to back to back defeats in their first two matches. Desperate for a win, Steve Coppell's men travelled to New Delhi to play Delhi Dynamos FC. With the scores level at 1-1 and eighty-three minutes on the clock, it seemed like the two teams would be sharing the spoils. But in stepped El Maimouni Noussair. ATK's Moroccan recruit, who was an 81st minute substitute for Kalu Uche, came to his team's rescue. He combined well with fellow substitute Jayesh Rane to score the all-important winner and the 25th goal of the season.
Goal 50: The half-century is up
From one new ATK recruit to another. Defender John Johnson swapping Bengaluru FC for ATK was one of the biggest transfer stories in pre-season and the Englishman endeared himself to the Kolkata fans in spectacular fashion during ATK’s home match against Chennaiyin FC. Johnson leaped over the Chennaiyin defence to get on the end of a sumptuous Manuel Lanzarote free-kick and guided the ball into the bottom corner to give his team a 2-goal cushion in the match. The goal was his first in ATK colours and eventually turned out to be the winner.
Goal 75: The final stop before the big one

Goal number 75 of the season came about in Match 26 between FC Pune City and Kerala Blasters FC. With his team 1-0 down after a Marko Stankovic stunner, Kerala's Nikola Krcmarevic found himself in the right place at the right time to score the equaliser and his first-ever goal in the Hero ISL. Seems like the Serbian has a knack of scoring milestone goals.