After 22 rounds of action in the league phase, it is time for the Indian Super League playoffs. For the first time, in a new format, the top six of the table got the chance of entering the knockouts of the competition. Shield Winners Mumbai City FC and last season’s ISL trophy holders Hyderabad FC have directly qualified for the semifinals by virtue of finishing in the top two.
ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters and Odisha FC make up the rest of the six who will play each other in the Eliminators to decide the last two slots for the semifinals. FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC both missed out on the spots by only three points in what was a thrilling race for the playoffs. East Bengal, Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United finished in the bottom three of the ISL table.
Teams
Odisha FC
Odisha FC finished three points clear in the last playoff spot ahead of both FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC but they had to battle hard for it. It was the Gaur’s collapse and the Juggernauts’ staying unbeaten in four out of the last five games of the league phase that helped them to the knockouts. Odisha FC finished sixth in the ISL table with 30 points by collecting nine wins, three draws and suffering eight defeats. As a result, they will take on the third-placed side in the league in an away fixture for the first eliminator game.
Kerala Blasters
Ivan Vukomanovic’s side once looked destined for third place on the table on the back of an outstanding undefeated run of eight games with seven wins in it from November last year to the start of January. The Tuskers started to fall off from there with only two wins registered from the resulting eight. They lost six games in that period including their last three to end the league fixtures. Kerala Blasters settled for the fifth spot instead which will put them into a battle against rivals Bengaluru FC for a place in the semifinals.
Bengaluru FC
Probably the story of the season, Bengaluru FC put together a miraculous run of winning all of their last seven games to finish fourth on the ISL table. Simon Grayson’s side were struggling for right cohesion in the team for most of the campaign, bracing for another disappointing outing in the league but the Blues did a late unprecedented turnaround to stun the other contenders for the playoffs. After picking up only three wins in the first eleven games, only a few teams could have dreamt of picking up maximum points for the rest of the league games, losing none and scoring a mind-blowing 19 goals. The 2018/19 champions ended in fourth on the table with 34 points this season, seven points clear in the top six.
ATK Mohun Bagan
ATK Mohun Bagan also made a comeback of their own after looking likely to slip off from the playoff spots. Although they had the second-best defense in the league, the Green and Maroons struggled in front of the goal for the entirety of the season with the least amount of strikes among the top six. After picking up only two wins from nine games, Juan Ferrando’s side sealed third place on the table with great difficulty after winning the last two of their league fixtures. They will fight against Odisha FC for a place in the finals.
Hyderabad FC
The Nizams were in a toe-to-toe battle with Mumbai City FC for the first place on the table but then a mini-slump from them and the unmatchable form of the Islanders forced them to settle for the second spot, four points away from the top spot. At least, Hyderabad FC ended with a better points tally (43) than their title-winning season (38) showing the lofty heights this talented side continues to reach. Manolo Marquez’s side also had the best defense in the league conceding only 16 from 20 games and their solidity will be key again to defend their ISL crown should they reach a consecutive final.
Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City were not just the winner of the ISL Winner’s Shield but record-breakers as they gained enormous achievements on the pitch. Des Buckingham’s side collected the most points (46), the most goals (54), went on an unprecedented winning (11 games) and unbeaten (18 games) streak and also became the first club to win the Shield twice. All more than any other club in ISL history. One thing the Islanders failed to do is finish the season unbeaten after losing their last two games of the league phase although they were invincible at the time of claiming the silverware. Now, they eye more records in the playoffs to go on and do the double for the second time in three years.
Fixtures
The playoffs will begin this week on Friday, 3 March 2023 with the single-legged Eliminators before the double-legged semifinals that commence on Tuesday, 7 March 2023 with the top-two teams in the league having home advantage in the first leg. The final of the 2022/23 ISL season will be held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on March 18, 2023.
Friday 3 March 2023
Eliminator 1: Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters - Sree Kanteerava Stadium (19:30)
Fourth-placed Bengaluru FC will face off fifth-placed Kerala Blasters in a huge Southern rivalry clash in the first eliminator game at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore.
Saturday 4 March 2023
Eliminator 2: ATK Mohun Bagan vs Odisha FC - Salt Lake Stadium (19:30)
Finished third in the table, ATK Mohun Bagan will take on last playoff spot holders Odisha FC in the second eliminator game at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Tuesday 7 March 2023
Semi-final 1 Leg 1: Mumbai City FC vs Winner of Eliminator 1 - Mumbai Football Arena (19:30)
Table toppers and Shield winners Mumbai City FC will battle against the winners of the first eliminator at home in the first leg of the first semifinal to take an early step to the final.
Thursday 9 March 2023
Semi-final 2 Leg 1: Hyderabad FC vs Winner of Eliminator 2 - Gachibowli Stadium (19:30)
Hyderabad FC begin their ISL title defense at home in the first leg of the second semifinal against the side emerging victorious from the second eliminator game.
Sunday 12 March 2023
Semi-final 1 Leg 2: Winner of Eliminator 1 vs Mumbai City FC - TBD (19:30)
Sunday 13 March 2023
Semi-final 2 Leg 2: Winner of Eliminator 2 vs Hyderabad FC - TBD (19:30)
Saturday 18 March 2023
Final: Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of Semi-final 2 - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (19:30)
The winners of the first and second semifinals will meet in the ninth ISL final to lift the trophy at the chosen venue Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.
