The I-League title race is down to the most dramatic final day in the competition’s history with as many as four contenders, across three matches, seeking a coronation to remember.
On the eve of the last round matches, Minerva Punjab leads the chasing pack with 32 points, ahead of Neroca FC (31), Mohun Bagan (30) and East Bengal (30). All four are in with a chance and play their respective matches simultaneously.
East Bengal will count on home advantage against Neroca FC in its last-gasp bid to win the elusive trophy. Neroca, yet another surprise package form the Northeast after Aizawl FC, has defied expectations to come this far.
Minerva hosts Churchill Brothers in Panchkula and Mohun Bagan faces Gokulam Kerala in Kozhikode. Permutations and combinations are certain to come into the picture.
East Bengal can claim its maiden title if it manages to beat Neroca and hope that both Minerva and Bagan lose their games.
Advantage Minerva
But it’s advantage Minerva, which needs only a win to seal the deal, failing which it will have to depend on favourable results from the other two matches.
Second-placed Neroca FC can lift the trophy on its debut season in case it manages to earn a win and pray that Minerva does not pick up full points.
A win against Gokulam could see Mohun Bagan crowned champion, if other results goes its way.
However, even if Minerva loses and finishes with 32 points, it can still be the champion provided all the other results goes in its favour. If three teams finish on 33 points, then Bagan will lift its second I-league trophy as cumulative points collected from four fixtures will be taken into account.
Bagan has seven points with a double over East Bengal and a draw against Minerva. Minerva has picked up five points (win and draw against Bagan and another draw against East Bengal) whereas East Bengal has managed only four (win and a draw against Minerva).
East Bengal will rely on Nigerian ace Dudu Omagbemi, who scored a brace to rescue a point against Shillong FC, while Minerva will look up to Bhutanese Chencho Gyeltshen to show it the way.