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Churchill Brothers, Gokulam Kerala FC, Real Kashmir FC and Inter Kashi have the chance to win the I-League title.
I-League Title Race Explained: Churchill Brothers, Gokulam Kerala, Real Kashmir and Inter Kashi in contention (AIFF)
The I-League title race has come down to the wire yet again and will see Churchill Brothers, Gokulam Kerala FC, Real Kashmir FC and Inter Kashi in a photo-finish on the last round of games.
Here’s who the teams can win the I-League title:
Inter Kashi Pray For A Mirracle
Inter Kashi will only stand a chance to be champions should they receive a favourable decision on the pending AIFF Appeal Committee’s hearing. They still need to do their job on the pitch, which is beating Rajasthan United in Kalyani, and keep up their end of the bargain.
A draw might also be barely enough, with more complicated permutations. It will require Churchill Brothers to lose to Real Kashmir and Gokulam Kerala to not beat Dempo.
Churchill Brothers Or Real Kashmir?
There are so many scenarios for each team to succeed and fail, that this is only the tip of the iceberg. We can run into ifs and buts, and this and that, but there’s only one team that can break this ice – Churchill Brothers. The leaders are the only team among the four with everything in their hands. Win in Kashmir and the trophy will be theirs, irrespective of anything that transpires in Kalyani or Kozhikode, or even in the hearing. It just emphasises the significance of that late Lalremruata equaliser against Inter Kashi last week.
But then, it’s winning in Kashmir we’re talking about. That attempt was made by 10 teams this season. Only seven goals have been scored by visitors at the TRC Turf Ground. The Red Machines will have their task cut out, especially against a Real Kashmir side who also have their shot at history. The Snow Leopards can bring the trophy to the valley by beating Churchill with a three-goal margin, and wishing Gokulam Kerala don’t beat Dempo.
The other issue is that they’re not known to be prolific scorers. With 30 goals, Real Kashmir are only the ninth-highest scorers in the league. But flip to the other side of the coin, and you realise Churchill Brothers have kept only three clean sheets this season. This is a match to go all out for the win, exactly how title deciders should be.
Gokulam Kerala’s Outside Chance
Gokulam Kerala were nowhere in the fray until a couple of weeks ago. In fact, the Malabarians, who had only one win in their first six games, had not been in the top three since Round 11. But six victories in the previous seven means they’ve boomed to second place and thrown their hat in the ring.
Mid-season recruit Thabiso Brown, with nine goals in just six games, is suddenly the most lethal striker in the I-League, and will spearhead the attack against Dempo in one final push for the trophy. Gokulam need to beat the Goan outfit and hope for favours from Real Kashmir and Rajasthan United.
Relegation Battle For SC Bengaluru And Aizawl FC
On the other hand, the I-League is never just about the trophy. The tussle to avoid relegation can be equally fierce. After Delhi FC’s drop was confirmed last month, two teams with contrasting histories are fighting for that one spot in next season’s I-League. SC Bengaluru were formed five years after Aizawl FC became I-League champions. This season, there has been little to separate them.
Both are locked on 20 points each, but crucially, Aizawl have that head-to-head advantage, which means beating Namdhari, on Saturday, will ensure survival and an 11th consecutive season in the I-League. Similar to Churchill, that injury-time equaliser in Shillong last week has put safety in their own hands.
Newly-promoted SC Bengaluru’s situation has become a bit dire. They spent the last eight rounds outside the relegation zone, mainly thanks to an unbeaten February, but four defeats in the last five matches, including against direct rivals Aizawl, has put them alarmingly close to I-League 2 next season.The final game sees them travel to Hyderabad to face Sreenidi Deccan, which doesn’t look too promising, primarily since SC Bengaluru are the worst travellers in the league, with just four points and six goals in 10 trips this season. The Golden Tigers require a gargantuan effort to beat the Deccan Warriors, and even that might not be enough if Aizawl do their job 2,200 kilometres away.
I-League 2024-25 Final Round Fixtures
- April 5, IST 16:00 – Shillong Lajong FC vs Delhi FC
- April 5, IST 19:00 – Aizawl FC vs Namdhari FC
- April 5, IST 19:00 – Sreenidi Deccan FC vs SC Bengaluru
- April 6, IST 16:00 – Gokulam Kerala FC vs Dempo SC
- April 6, IST 16:00 – Real Kashmir FC vs Churchill Brothers FC Goa
- April 6, IST 16:00 – Inter Kashi vs Rajasthan United FC
- Location :
Srinagar | Kolkata | Kozhikode, India