ISL Week 9: Chennaiyin's surge to the top, successive wins for Blasters

Chennaiyin FC surged to the top of the Indian Super League table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over FC Pune City on Saturday. Dutchman Gregory Nelson was the lone scorer of the night as his 83rd-minute goal handed Chennaiyin its first win at home in three games. <br> Brazilian playmaker Raphael Augusto was influential on the evening as he played a delightful through ball to Nelson, who received the ball on his right leg, cut past Gurtej Singh and coolly slotted it past Kaith to score his first goal of the campaign, and with that, earn Chennaiyin a significant victory.

Iain Hume’s anticipation and sharp reaction resulted in a surprise goal off a free-kick for Kerala Blasters, giving it a crucial win over Mumbai City FC. The solitary goal win in a free-flowing game, with fouls at both ends forcing a break in play, moves Kerala to the sixth place after 10 matches, while Mumbai retains the fifth position despite the defeat.

Bengaluru FC paid the price for its inability to convert chances as it suffered its fourth defeat of the season, going down 0-2 to Delhi Dynamos. In a game of equal exchanges, it was the Delhi side that managed to convert its chances through a Lallianzuala Chhangte strike in the 72nd minute and a Guyon Fernandes penalty in added time to take three crucial points from the tie. <br> Delhi remains at the bottom with seven points, while Bengaluru stays second with 18 points.

ATK held its nerves to defeat NorthEast United FC 1-0 in a vital away victory on Friday. Zequinha was the star of the show, striking in the 73rd minute to give his side the lead and the winner. <br> The victory sees the defending champion occupy the seventh place after nine matches and suddenly gives it hope, and takes some wind off the sails of NorthEast United FC, which had beaten FC Goa in its previous encounter.

Manuel Lanzarote scored a goal in each half to guide FC Goa to a 2-1 win over Jamshedpur FC on Thursday. Goa needed a win to stay in the top four and did the job with ease by dominating proceedings in both halves with some fluid passing. <br> With the win, Goa has collected 16 points from nine matches, the same as FC Pune City but is on the fourth spot on goal difference. Jamshedpur remains on 10 points from nine matches and is placed eighth.

Canadian striker Iain Hume struck a hat-trick as Kerala Blasters won its first game on road beating a hapless Delhi Dynamos 3-1 in a ninth round Indian Super League encounter on Wednesday. Hume scored in the 12th, 78th and 83rd minute respectively as Kerala elevated itself to the sixth position while Dynamos remains at the bottom of the heap after its seventh defeat. <br> Hume also made history on Wednesday night as he became the first man to score three hat-tricks in the ISL. The Canadian is also the most successful striker in the short history of the league, having scored 26 goals in 54 games.

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Chennaiyin FC surged to the top of the Indian Super League table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over FC Pune City on Saturday. Dutchman Gregory Nelson was the lone scorer of the night as his 83rd-minute goal handed Chennaiyin its first win at home in three games. <br> Brazilian playmaker Raphael Augusto was influential on the evening as he played a delightful through ball to Nelson, who received the ball on his right leg, cut past Gurtej Singh and coolly slotted it past Kaith to score his first goal of the campaign, and with that, earn Chennaiyin a significant victory.