AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: It’s tussle time in the 2024-25 I-League season. Teams have managed to shed off the early-season rustiness and are gradually coming into form. While some of the teams are already emerging as potential contenders, others are still in search of the winning formula. With the standings tightly packed after four rounds – just five points separating top from bottom – every point is proving crucial in the quest to climb up the league table.
This intensity is set to continue as Round 5 starts this Friday. One of the highlight fixtures will be the contest between league leaders Inter Kashi and the resurgent Churchill Brothers on Saturday in Kalyani at 19:00. Coached by Antonio López Habas, Inter Kashi have impressively remained undefeated, with a record of two wins and two draws so far. Back on their home turf, they aim to extend their unbeaten streak, buoyed by the league’s top scorer, Domingo Berlanga, who has netted four goals so far.
However, it won’t be easy for Inter Kashi. Churchill Brothers, currently in third place, have gained momentum after a shaky start to the season. Following a draw and a loss, they rallied to win their subsequent two matches down south against SC Bengaluru and Gokulam Kerala FC. They will be eager to derail Inter Kashi’s unbeaten record and continue their winning momentum away from home.
The other key match-up of Round 5 will be between Sreenidi Deccan FC and Dempo SC on Friday in Hyderabad at 19:00. Both teams are looking to recover from recent defeats and improve their mid-table standings. Dempo SC, former champions, sit just above Sreenidi Deccan in the table, holding fourth place with seven points. Sreenidi Deccan, last season’s runners-up, are just behind with six points and must be kicking themselves for missing the chance to go top of the table after losing to Delhi FC. Dempo, meanwhile, suffered their first loss of the campaign against SC Bengaluru. Both sides have displayed flashes of brilliance interspersed with periods of inconsistency, and they will be looking to address these issues head-on in their upcoming duel.
It’s not only Sreenidi Deccan and Dempo though who will try to bounce back from their losses. Gokulam Kerala FC, Aizawl FC and Rajasthan United FC too will aim to return to winning ways. Gokulam will face off against an in-form Shillong Lajong on Saturday in the Meghalaya capital at 16:30. Lajong registered their first win of the campaign with an emphatic 8-0 drubbing of Rajasthan United. Positioned sixth in the table, Gokulam will need to approach this match cautiously against an opponent riding high on confidence.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan United FC must regroup and refocus after their heavy defeat as they prepare to take on Aizawl FC away from home on Saturday at 14:00. Aizawl, too, seek redemption after a loss to Namdhari FC. The Reds will be delighted to be back on home turf after two weeks of travelling.
A team which would want to climb to the top spot is Real Kashmir. Ishfaq Ahmed’s men will strive to maintain their unbeaten streak as they face Namdhari FC on Sunday at 14:00. This will be the first time Real Kashmir will be on the road this season, and the Snow Leopards will hope to replicate their good form away from the valley. Namdhari will be buoyed by their first win of the campaign against Aizawl thanks to a clinical hat-trick from Cledson da Silva, but things might not be so simple against Real Kashmir, who possess one of the meanest defence in the league, conceding only three times so far.
Round 5 will kick off with a match between SC Bengaluru and Delhi FC at the Bangalpore Football Stadium at 15:30. Both teams made a slow start to the campaign but gained much-needed confidence with victories in Round 4, and will want to notch up another crucial victory on Friday.
