PANAJI: It’s a title race like no other, and this time, the stakes are higher too.
The I-League, Indian football’s second-tier club competition, has seen some thrilling action in the past with teams snatching the title on the concluding day. But this season’s battle has been extraordinary, with four clubs now in contention to win the title and seek qualification to the Indian Super League (ISL).
On Sunday, six teams will be involved in three matches to be played across the country. Four of them, Churchill Brothers, Inter Kashi, Real Kashmir and Gokulam Kerala, can win the I-League crown, depending on which way the results go.
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So, who are the favourites?
The I-League table suggests it’s Churchill, who have everything in their own hands. Should they draw in Kashmir, they will finish on top.
A win will be even better for the two-time former champions, since the pending appeal for three points from Inter Kashi will then be out of the equation.
But there’s a slight hitch. No visiting team has returned home from Srinagar with a win this season. Real Kashmir have won seven of their ten matches at home, with the other three ending in draws. Across all home games, they have conceded just seven goals, making life difficult for their opponents.
“We are facing a very, very, very, very difficult team,” said Churchill coach Dimitris Dimitriou. “They are a team with the best record in home games. It makes our job harder and more difficult.”
Real Kashmir are nursing title ambitions of their own. It’s quite a task: defeat Churchill by at least three goals and hope Gokulam Kerala do not edge past Dempo. The big prize? A ticket to the ISL next season.
WINNING EQUATION
The I-League, Indian football’s second-tier club competition, has seen some thrilling action in the past with teams snatching the title on the concluding day. But this season’s battle has been extraordinary, with four clubs now in contention to win the title and seek qualification to the Indian Super League (ISL).
On Sunday, six teams will be involved in three matches to be played across the country. Four of them, Churchill Brothers, Inter Kashi, Real Kashmir and Gokulam Kerala, can win the I-League crown, depending on which way the results go.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
So, who are the favourites?
The I-League table suggests it’s Churchill, who have everything in their own hands. Should they draw in Kashmir, they will finish on top.
A win will be even better for the two-time former champions, since the pending appeal for three points from Inter Kashi will then be out of the equation.
But there’s a slight hitch. No visiting team has returned home from Srinagar with a win this season. Real Kashmir have won seven of their ten matches at home, with the other three ending in draws. Across all home games, they have conceded just seven goals, making life difficult for their opponents.
“We are facing a very, very, very, very difficult team,” said Churchill coach Dimitris Dimitriou. “They are a team with the best record in home games. It makes our job harder and more difficult.”
Real Kashmir are nursing title ambitions of their own. It’s quite a task: defeat Churchill by at least three goals and hope Gokulam Kerala do not edge past Dempo. The big prize? A ticket to the ISL next season.
WINNING EQUATION
- Churchill: Get at least a point against Kashmir or lose by two goals and hope Gokulam Kerala drop points against Dempo.
- Gokulam Kerala: Defeat Dempo and hope Real Kashmir edge past Churchill.
- Real Kashmir: Defeat Churchill by at least three goals and hope Gokulam Kerala don’t win against Dempo.
- Inter Kashi: Pending a favourable verdict from the AIFF appeal committee, Inter Kashi must win against Rajasthan and hope Churchill do not win against Kashmir.
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