The Hero I-League kicked off last week with 43 Hero Indian Super League (ISL) players featuring in the first round. Five games were played with three of them ending in stalemates and two winners emerging from the other two. Mohun Bagan carved out a 3-1 victory in their opening game to top the table on goal difference.Laxmikant Kattimani (FC Goa) stood out amongst fine performances from other ISL stars such as Ranti Martins (FC Goa), Balwant Singh (Chennaiyin FC), Manish Bhargav (Delhi Dynamos FC), Cavin Lobo (Altético de Kolkata), Boithang Haokip (NorthEast United FC) and Subrata Paul (Mumbai City FC).Fielding over half a dozen players that featured in the ISL, Mohun Bagan had one of their best recent starts to a season, when they carved out a 3-1 victory at home against Mumbai FC in an opening round match of the Hero I-League on January 18. The win, shaped by a brace by Japanese playmaker Katsumi Yusa and a strike by Haitian international Sony Norde, helped the maroon & green brigade to top the table on goal difference after the first round of five matches were completed.It was Chennaiyin FC striker Balwant Singh who provided the pass for Yusa to open his account in the 13th minute and the Japanese player then completed his brace in the 69th minute thanks to an assist by Delhi Dynamos FC midfielder Manish Bhargav.The only other team to win their opening round match were new entrants Royal Wahingdoh FC, who shocked city-mates Shillong Lajong FC, comprising largely of NorthEast United FC players, 1-2 in the Shillong derby. The other three matches all ended in stalemates, with defending champions Bengaluru FC being stifled in a goalless draw at home by Dempo SC, while Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa were held to 1-1 draws by Pune FC and East Bengal respectively.FC Goa’s Ranti Martins, who had failed to hit the target in the ISL, rediscovered his touch by opening the scoring for East Bengal from a Cavin Lobo pass. East Bengal fielded a strong line-up of ISL stalwarts including Highlanders’ signing and former Kiwi international Leo Bertos.Midfielder Boithang Haokip of Shillong Lajong, who had played on loan for NorthEast United, also saw his shot from a free kick sail into the net, albeit off the head of a Royal Wahingdoh defender. The Royals, despite their inexperience in the top flight, were clearly the better team on the day. Their seasoned rivals, who are being managed by NorthEast United’s assistant coach Thangboi Singto, did have their fair share of chances to square things up, but could not make their opportunities count.For five-time I-League / NFL champions Dempo, it was Laxmikant Kattimani who did the star turn as he kept Bengaluru FC at bay in the newly-renovated Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the garden city. Kattimani was voted Hero of the Match and even saved a penalty taken by India skipper Sunil Chhetri. The goalkeeper had turned out twice for FC Goa in the ISL, and had given a fair account of himself. Incidentally, Bengaluru had easily brushed aside Dempo in the final of the recent Federation Cup in Goa, in which young winger Romeo Fernandes, who had dazzled in the ISL, was named Player of the Tournament.Another goalkeeper who impressed was the Subrata Paul, who made several saves as a depleted Salgaocar side held on for a 1-1 draw against Pune. Paul had kept six clean sheets in the ISL for Mumbai City FC and had effected 49 saves. Expect to see more of his heroics as the Goan league champions mount a serious challenge for the Hero I-League title.New entrants Bharat FC will be seen in action for the first time in the second round as they take on Dempo at home in Pune on January 24.
