Shilarze Saha Roy
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: The I-League is approaching its business end and the competition has intensified, especially among the top four teams: Mohammedan Sporting, Sreenidi Deccan, Gokulam Kerala, and Real Kashmir FC. With a mere six points separating these contenders, the league is truly witnessing a thrilling race to the finish line.
Mohammedan Sporting, currently leading the table, cannot afford to be complacent. Their recent match against Sreenidi Deccan, where they narrowly escaped defeat to secure a draw, served as a reminder of the challenges ahead. They are set to face Gokulam Kerala in an away match at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode on Sunday, March 3, 2024, and it will be a fixture that will test their title aspirations.
It certainly won’t be easy for the Kolkata giants. Gokulam Kerala are a formidable team and currently occupy the third spot in the league standings. With 32 points from 17 matches, including nine wins, five draws, and three losses, the Malabarians have demonstrated remarkable form recently, stringing together five consecutive wins before suffering an unexpected setback against Namdhari FC in their last match. They will be keen to return to winning ways and narrow the gap at the top of the table apart from asserting their championship credentials.
The first leg match between the sides ended in a 1-1 draw but Sunday’s encounter could significantly impact the title race as Mohammedan Sporting will be aiming to consolidate their position at the top. Gokulam will be banking on their goalscoring machine Alejandro Sanchez Lopez to deliver the goods on Sunday. Lopez currently leads the goalscoring charts with 13 strikes.
The limelight will not only be on the match between Gokulam Kerala and Mohammedan Sporting. Sreenidi Deccan and Real Kashmir will face each other in another crucial match at the Deccan Arena on Monday, March 4, 2024. Sreenidi Deccan will be licking their wounds after missing out on a chance to leapfrog Mohammedan Sporting and take the top spot in the standings. They conceded a last-gasp goal against Mohammedan Sporting in their last match and had to settle for a frustrating draw.
Sreenidi Deccan hold the second spot with 33 points from 16 matches. They have won 10 games, drew and lost three times each. But they need to come out all guns blazing against Real Kashmir.
The Srinagar-based side have been the most organised side in the league defensively. As a result, they have conceded the least number of goals — 8 — in the tournament so far and are placed fourth in the league with 30 points from 16 matches. They have nine wins in their bag, settled for three draws, and lost four games. With both sides hoping to climb up the table, the match promises to be a thrilling one.
Other teams who would also try to ascend the I-League standings are Inter Kashi and Rajasthan United FC. Both teams face each other at the Kalyani Stadium on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Inter Kashi are fifth in the table with 26 points from 17 matches and still have an outside chance of winning the league. They are on an unbeaten run of four matches and would be willing to continue the momentum against Rajasthan United, who are placed ninth with 17 points from 16 matches.
All eyes will also be on the game between Delhi FC and Namdhari FC at the Namdhari Stadium on Sunday, March 3, 2024. Delhi FC, who are seventh in the table with 22 points from 16 matches, will be keen to bounce back after suffering a defeat in their last game. Namdhari, who are 11th in the standings, will be aiming to move up after returning to winning ways in their last match.
The other match in this round is between Churchill Brothers and Shillong Lajong FC at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco on Monday, March 4, 2024. Lajong, who occupy the sixth spot with 26 points from 16 matches, had themselves to blame when they allowed Rajasthan United to come back from a two-goal deficit to draw 4-4. No wonder then that they will be keen to make amends against Churchill Brothers, who are 10th in the table.
