I-League final round preview: The Judgement Day

Chousef

Editor

posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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I-League is coming to close but most coveted places are still up for grabs.

New Delhi: After the Holy month of Lent came to an end and Easter festivities being fresh in the minds, it’s time for the verdict to be out. The ‘book of deeds’ of each team will be reviewed and based on every action, they shall be answerable. If the conduct has been pious, they shall enjoy the fruits or otherwise, they shall be damned to hell (read second division).

The I-League shall come to close but the most coveted places are still up for grabs. At the top, there’s a twin battle between Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan with the former having the upper hand due to a superior goal difference which just can’t be matched.

At the rear, it’s four teams struggling to keep themselves in the top division with just one game to go. Not many leagues in the world have this scenario with the title and the relegation to be decided on the last day. Whoever thought Indian football is boring!

Without taking more time of yours, we go through the fixtures of Round 22 where all the games will be held simultaneously to avoid any confusion or even a chance to fix matches.

Churchill Brothers (1st, 43 points) – Mohammedan Sporting (11th, 22 points): It’s a complete paradox situation with the home needing a win to win their first I-League trophy while the other also wants three points but to save themselves from going down. No team has ever beaten Churchill Brothers at Goa except for Dempo and Sporting Clube De Goa which makes the odds against Mohammedan Sporting to do a miracle go as high as the Everest.

The Goan side are the favourites on paper with a side so rich in talent but what they lack is the experience which coach Zoran Djordjevic claims to have with his over 30 years in top flight football.

Mohammedan Sporting’s first choice custodian Naseem Akhtar hasn’t travelled due to a bout of small pox while second choice Tharangachan has an ankle injury; something which anyone would hate to have especially against a team which has the best goalscoring record in the league.

Mahindra United (5th, 28 points) – Mohun Bagan (2nd, 43 points): The last time Mahindra United played in Delhi, they beat the favourites Churchill Brothers to lift the Durand Cup back in September last year. This game had to be shifted to the capital as Western India Football Association (WIFA) couldn’t guarantee apt security measures due to elections in the state of Maharashtra. The Red Devils have nothing to lose which takes the pressure off their backs. They would be more than keen to end the I-League on a high after another forgettable season with the sole exception of Durand Cup triumph.

The detractors of Mohun Bagan have had to shut-up for once with their morale boosting victory against defending champions Dempo SC last Sunday. They have the champions’ luck and the side has always performed when they have been under pressure except the loss to Churchill Brothers away from home which has handed the Goan giants the advantage. A win for Mohun Bagan may not be enough as they need Churchill Brothers to drop some points which shall ensure their first I-League title in seven years.

JCT (10th, 22 points) – Mumbai FC (6th, 28 points): It’s been one of the worst seasons for the Punjab side as they are still not sure of their berth in the top division next season. With their foreigners not being in top form and the players lacking in experience, it has been a tough task for them throughout. Home advantage shall work in their favour and one expects them to beat the relegation blues.

Mumbai FC are more than keen to try some of their youngsters and have a look at them. They are also battling for the fourth slot with Mahindra United and Dempo SC but even if they finish where they are, it’s a great achievement for the newcomers.

Air India (8th, 24 points) – Sporting Clube De Goa (3rd, 40 points): The Mumbai club is another one in a precarious situation. Having seen their home game moved to Gurgaon, they need at least a point to be safe. Their job can be made easier if Churchill Brothers do manage to beat Mohammedan Sporting but there’s no leaving it on others. Air India have a lot of problems as two of their foreigners are suspended for the game in Emmanuel Oviegahara and Chukuwama Udofia.

Sporting Clube De Goa would have only themselves to blame for the poor string of results which saw them throw away the title and allow the others to go ahead. The Flaming Oranje led the table for a large part of the I-League and crumbled at crucial junctures which shall see them finish mostly in the third spot. The influential Harmanjot Khabra is suspended for the match.

Vasco SC (12th, 20 points) – Chirag United (9th, 23 points): There’s one team on whom the verdict has already been passed – Vasco SC. They were the favourites to go down and haven’t disappointed one bit. The Goan side are a classic example of how teams with lack of proper funds and good investment can go nowhere in the top division. They have conceded 45 goals in the I-League, which is a record in itself.

The Kolkata side also needs a win to keep themselves safe. Having a quality side which has impressed in parts, it will be a loss to see this side go down into the second division. It shall be an easy affair for Chirag United as they take on the team who are the lowest in the league.

East Bengal (7th, 27 points) – Dempo SC (4th, 30 points): This is the only inconsequential match in the I-League of the last round where the results won’t matter much to anyone. The Red and Gold’s have for the second year performed miserably and shall look to end the season on a high note. There has been an attack of Subhash Bhowmick recently by Dempo coach Armando Colaco for poaching his players which makes the atmosphere even better.

Defending champions Dempo SC started the league with a disappointing 2-1 loss to JCT at home and also lost to Mohun Bagan in their last encounter. Before the home game against Al Muharraq in a week’s time, the Goan side shall look to this match as another practice game.