AIFF Media Team
KOLKATA: Hero I-League Gameweek 4 saw 23 goals in six matches, averaging 3.83 goals per match. Late drama was a common theme, with as many as five goals coming in added time after 90 minutes.
After a goalless draw between Rajasthan United and Sudeva Delhi, the floodgates opened in the next match where RoundGlass Punjab staged a dramatic injury time comeback to beat Aizawl 4-3. There was more late drama later in the evening as Fredsan Marshall’s stunning strike snatched a point for Sreenidi Deccan against Real Kashmir.
On Saturday, Luka Majcen’s hat-trick powered Gokulam Kerala to a 6-2 win over Kenkre for the highest scoring game of the season. The defending champions have now scored 11 goals in their last two matches after only scoring once in their first two.
Table-toppers Mohammedan didn’t hold back either, thumping Indian Arrows 4-0 to retain their two-point advantage on top. The Black and White Brigade had one of the lowest xG at just 0.73, but still managed to score four times. The league’s top-scorer, Marcus Joseph, has now scored a brace in three consecutive matches, taking his tally to a total of 7 goals in just 4 games.
Unsurprisingly, Gokulam Kerala attempted the most shots of any team, 24 (with a 25% conversion rate). Sreenidi Deccan were rather wasteful, scoring just once from 18 shots. Newly-promoted Kenkre scored twice from their only two shots on target.
Gokulam Kerala dominated the numbers in other aspects as well. The Malabarians completed 696 passes (91% accuracy), including 11 key passes, the most by any team. They also had the highest percentage of challenges won (57%) and dribbles completed (80%). Gokulam were also the most economical side in terms of expected goals, scoring six times with an xG of just 2.3.
For more stats like these, please visit https://i-league.org/stats/i-league/