AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: With everything to play for and nothing to separate them on paper, Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi are set for a titanic clash at the Raia Ground, in Goa, on Sunday, March 30, 2025, in what could be the decisive fixture of the 2024–25 I-League season.

Churchill Brothers (38) are just three points ahead of third-placed Inter Kashi (35), both teams having played 20 matches apiece. For Inter Kashi, it is a must-win encounter as they lost the reverse fixture 1-3 against Churchill Brothers in December, and anything other than three points on Sunday will end their title aspirations. The Red Machines can, theoretically, win the title on Sunday should they avoid defeat, Real Kashmir lose to Dempo on Saturday, and Gokulam Kerala fail to beat Sreenidi Deccan on Sunday.

The Red Machines will be keen to put their latest frustration behind them. The Goan outfit were denied all three points in their last outing after Sreenidi Deccan’s David Castañeda Muñoz scored a stoppage-time penalty, forcing a 1–1 draw.

Inter Kashi, on the other hand, come into the game riding high on confidence. After being held by Sreenidi Deccan as well, they bounced back to beat Shillong Lajong 2–1 and took advantage of Churchill’s slip-up.

While these two teams battle it out, other title contenders Real Kashmir FC and Gokulam Kerala FC will be watching with keen interest, hoping for a slip-up. Real Kashmir are second with 35 points, the same as Inter Kashi, and face a tough away fixture against a resurgent Dempo SC, who hammered Aizawl 5–2 in their last match and secured their place in next season’s I-League. Real Kashmir’s away form has been questionable, and anything short of a win on Saturday could be the killer blow to their title hopes.

Gokulam Kerala, currently fourth with 34 points, will face the ever-unpredictable Sreenidi Deccan on Sunday evening. The Malabarians have stitched together a three-match winning run and look sharp, but Sreenidi have mastered the art of playing spoilers — holding both Churchill and Inter Kashi recently — and could make things difficult once again.

It’s not just at the top that the stakes are high. The relegation battle is equally gripping. While Delhi FC are already relegated, SC Bengaluru and Aizawl FC are in a direct scrap to avoid the drop. SC Bengaluru, on 20 points, can seal survival with a win over Namdhari FC on Sunday, provided Aizawl — currently on 19 points — lose against Shillong Lajong on Saturday.

As Round 21 kicks off, every match, every goal, and every point will carry massive implications — from title dreams to survival scraps — making this one of the most dramatic finishes the I-League has seen in years.