Matchweek 17 Review: Owen Coyle’s Chennaiyin FC Struggles, Mohun Bagan Emerges Victorious

Owen Coyle’s return to Chennaiyin FC in the ISL has been disappointing with the team languishing at the bottom just above Hyderabad FC, who also struggled. Chennaiyin suffered a 1-0 defeat to East Bengal, exacerbating their woes. On the other hand, a struggling Hyderabad fell 2-0 to Punjab FC, compounding their troubles.

In other crucial matches impacting the title race, Goa stopped their downward trend by sharing points with Mumbai. Odisha staged a comeback victory against East Bengal, piling pressure on Mohun Bagan. However, Bagan, managed by Habas, triumphed over Jamshedpur with a convincing 3-0 win, closing in on Odisha at the top of the table.

Chennaiyin’s hopes of a top-six finish dwindled further with a defeat against East Bengal, courtesy of Nandhakumar’s winning goal. Despite more shots on target, Chennaiyin struggled to convert opportunities into goals, a recurring theme for them this season.

Punjab FC continued their good form after the Super Cup break, securing a 2-0 win over Hyderabad, who struggled to impress. Goals from Madih Talal and Luka Majcen sealed the deal for Punjab, with Talal and Majcen proving to be standout performers for The Shers.

The clash between Mumbai and Goa had added tension due to accusations of spying, but it ended in a draw with Yasir’s equalizer for Mumbai. Vikram had initially put Mumbai in the lead before Yasir’s strike leveled the score.

Odisha overcame an early scare to defeat East Bengal, with Princeton Rebello and Mauricio ensuring the three points for Odisha. Mohun Bagan disrupted Jamshedpur’s unbeaten run with a 3-0 victory, with Petratos, Cummings, and Sadiku all finding the net.

With the race for the title heating up, Goa, Odisha, Mohun Bagan, and Mumbai are all in contention. Goa has 29 points from 16 games with a game in hand, while Mohun Bagan and Mumbai trail closely behind. The battle for the top six and the title race are set to intensify in the coming weeks.