ISL: Sunil Chhetri and Lallianzuala Chhangte emerge as top Indian goal scorers in 2020
In 2020, there have been 33 different Indian goal scorers in the country's top division
In a world where we are gradually getting used to a 'new normal', a few things remain constant. Like Sunil Chhetri finishing the calendar year being the top Indian goal scorer in the domestic circuit with seven strikes to his name. Chennaiyin FC's young winger Lallianzuala Chhangte shares the same pedestal with Chhetri, having scored the same number of goals (7).
Both players have been instrumental to their side's success. In this edition of ISL (Indian Super League), Bengaluru FC have won all the matches in which Chhetri has found the net. He is ageing like fine wine and his towering headed goals against Kerala Blasters and Odisha FC are a testimony to it. In both the cases, he was being man-marked, but the Indian skipper leapt higher than the defender to head home the cross.
In 2020, the Blues have lost four matches and Chhetri failed to score in all of them. This shows how crucial the striker is for Carles Cuadrat's team.
Meanwhile, Chhangte's goal-scoring prowess in 2020 has been a revelation. This calendar year has been, without doubt, the most productive year for the youngster in front of goal. He scored his first against Jamshedpur in a thumping 4-1 win in January. He followed it up with a brace against Kerala Blasters and in the business end of the 2019-20 season, he was regarded as one of the most dangerous attackers in the ISL.
He stepped up his game when it mattered the most and scored in both the legs of the semi-final against FC Goa, in March, to book a place in the final. A lot of credit should go to the winger for Chennaiyin's resurgence under Owen Coyle in the previous season. In this campaign, Chhagnte has been regularly finding himself in good positions to score and if he had been a bit more clinical, he could have been the top Indian goalscorer in 2020.
Jackichand Singh is another play who has been exciting to watch in ISL. Primarily known for his deliveries from the wide areas, he has also shone in front of goal as well in 2020. In fact, he had more goals (5) than assists (3) to show for his efforts. He has found the net against formidable opponents like Mumbai City, Kerala Blasters and also has a brace against Odisha FC.
In the ongoing season of ISL, he has jumped ship and joined Jamshedpur FC. In his new surroundings, he has taken up the more usual role of a provider than a goal-scorer and has already assisted thrice in eight matches.
There are seven players who have scored two goals in 2020, whereas 23 of them have got their names on the scoresheet at least once.
The top 10 Indian goal-scorers of 2020 are as follows:
- Sunil Chhetri (7) - Bengaluru FC & Lallianzuala Chhangte (7) - Chennaiyin FC
- Jackichand Singh (5) - Jamshedpur FC
- Liston Colaco (2) - Hyderabad FC
- Michael Soosairaj (2) - ATK Mohun Bagan
- Manvir Singh (2) - ATK Mohun Bagan
- Anirudh Thapa (2) - Chennaiyin FC
- Rowwlin Borges (2) - Mumbai City FC
- Halicharan Narzary (2) - Hyderabad FC
- Rahim Ali (2) - Chennaiyin FC