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The I-League after the weekends Round 14 matches has entered a much needed two week break for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers with Aizawl FC going as the surprise league leaders into the break.
The closer the end of the season is coming, the likelier it is that Aizawl FC could be the shock 2016/17 I-League champions with their strongest and only rivals for the title being the Kolkata giants East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC, who have both been dropping points in recent weeks.
Having watched Aizawl FC live last Tuesday, March 7 in Pune against DSK Shivajians FC, a match that Aizawl FC should have never ever won, I had said to those present that these are the matches which champions need to win to lift titles.
Surely Aizawl FC suffered a set back with the late 2-2 equaliser at Minerva Punjab FC on Sunday, but with East Bengal suffering a shock late 1-2 loss at Chennai City FC on Sunday evening after Mohun Bagan had drawn goalless away at Bengaluru FC, the point won in Ludhiana could be very valuable for the side from Mizoram.
With four rounds of matches to be played in April 2017, the likelihood of Aizawl FC being crowned I-League champions is growing by the day. Now it is a situation that has turned things around as it is Aizawl FC’s I-League title to lose.
A situation that a few match rounds ago people would have said about Trevor Morgan coached East Bengal, but losses to Churchill Brothers and Chennai City FC have pushed the red and gold from title favourites to title challengers in recent weeks.
The other Kolkata side are Mohun Bagan, who would like to win the title back from Bengaluru FC, but draws with Mumbai FC and Bengaluru FC besides two I-League matches pending due to their AFC Cup qualifiers have left the Mariners with an outside chance to lift the title with two games in hand.
Meanwhile defending champions Bengaluru FC are only a point away from being out of the championship race with Albert Roca’s men set to focus on the AFC Cup rather than the Premier League.
