The Indian Super League race is heating up and so is the race for the ISL 2020-21 Golden Boot. With some players already making their intent crystal clear in the previous four matchdays, we try and chalk out your top fantasy picks ahead of matchday 5.
Player: Igor Angulo, FC Goa
Match: Odisha FC vs FC Goa
The FC Goa marksman has already announced himself as one of the early contenders in the ISL 2020 Golden Boot race, with as many as five goals in four matches. If he was FC Goa’s plan B to fill the huge vacuum left by their former talismanic striker Ferran Corominas, then the Gaurs have every reason to be excited about. Against Kerala Blasters, Angula was at his clinical best with some intelligent runs and pinpoint finishing. While his first goal was a cheeky lob over the goalie from the edge of the box, his second displayed his poaching attributes as he patiently waited for Albino Gomes to make the mistake.
Player: Roy Krishna, ATK Mohun
Match: ATK Mohun Bagan vs Hyderabad FC
Suggesting Roy Krishna in this list is a no-brainer. The ATK Mohun Bagan striker is the perfect target man every ISL club would kill to have. Antonio Habas’ conservative setup, which sees his men playing solely on the counterattack, is successful mostly because of the Fijian international’s unparalleled work rate upfront. With Roy Krishna chasing the ball there is never a lost cause and that was evident in ATKMB’s win over Odisha FC. Last season’s joint top scorer has already netted four times in four matches and is very likely to score in his next match against Hyderabad FC as well.
Player: Rowllin Borges, Mumbai City FC
Match: Mumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC
It may come as a surprise but Sergio Lobera’s setup might have enough space for Rowlin Borges to slot in goals from time to time. Playing the role of FC Goa’s Edu Bedia while sitting deep in Mumbai’s midfield, the sturdy box-to-box Indian player has the technical aspects to pick the goal as and when the opportunity arises. With most opponents sitting deep to thwart Mumbai’s seamless passing build-up, Adam Le Fondre and Hugo Boumous are likely to draw men with them, leaving crucial spaces for Borges, as was evident against Odisha FC. Mumbai’s next opponent Chennaiyin FC are expected to adopt a similar strategy to stop Lobera’s men and Borges could become the differential.
Player: Sunil Chhetri, Bengaluru FC
Match: Bengaluru FC vs NorthEast United FC
If Carles Cuadrat’s men had to struggle to churn out a narrow 1-0 win over Chennaiyin FC in their last match, Gerard Nus’ NorthEast United are waiting to wage a war on the 2018-19 ISL champions. The Highlanders have stunned everyone to sit third in the ISL points table after four matches and Bengaluru FC know very well what they will be up against in their next fixture. While Cuadrat has enough personnel to see off the physical battles in the midfield and defence, the Spaniard still relies enormously on 36-year-old Sunil Chettri to carry out the scoring duties. The Indian football team captain has been one of the finest finishers in ISL over the past few seasons and he opened his scoring for the season in the last match.
Player: Nerijus Valskis, Jamshedpur FC
Match: SC East Bengal vs Jamshedpur FC
Despite the underwhelming start to their ISL 2020-21 campaign, Jamshedpur FC have some lethal weapons in their arsenal. In manager Owen Coyle, who took Chennaiyin FC to the 2019-20 ISL final last season, and striker Nerijus Valskis, who won the Golden Boot last time, Jamshedpur FC have the perfect recipe for success. And they remain a top-four contender solely because of Valskis, who has scored five of the six goals that Jamshedpur FC have scored so far. The Lithuanian striker is expected to be a danger against a struggling SC East Bengal side and fantasy managers should capitalize on this opportunity.
