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As the Indian Super League goes to a long break, the only football competition that remains in the country is definitely the I-League. The tournament is becoming more interesting to watch. With each passing day, the matches are being played in a more competitive manner than the ISL.
As the tournament organisers increased the number of foreigners, the gaps between the team have narrowed. With proper planning and scouting, clubs like Chennai City are reaping rich dividends. Others are not behind as they are making steady progress behind the league leaders.
This week has witnessed three major things.
Firstly, East Bengal have finally ended their winless run against Mohun Bagan with a dominating 3-2 win in the most popular match of Indian football. This helped the red and gold turn their campaign around after three straight losses.
Secondly, Real Kashmir registered their biggest victory in the club’s history with a 6-1 demolition of Shillong Lajong. This is the biggest winning margin in this edition of the league as of now.
Thirdly, Katsumi Yusa scored in 13 seconds against Churchill Brothers to create history, becoming the fastest player to score in an I-League match.
Let us analyse the points of gameweek 9:
#5 Real Kashmir demolish Lajong
After putting up a brave fight against Minerva Punjab FC to register their first win, Real Kashmir were quiet in the next three matches, failing to score a goal at home. Their fortunes turned with the home win against Indian Arrows and thereafter, there was no looking back for them.
On last Tuesday, they created quite an uproar among the Indian football community with their display against Shillong Lajong. Not one or two but they put six goals past their opponents, which is the biggest margin of victory this season.
Lajong are struggling to find their rhythm with an all-Indian set-up and Real Kashmir used this opportunity in style. After Kofi Tetteh opened the scoring for the home side, it was raining goals. Mason Robertson, Nagen Tamang, Gnohere Krizo, Surchandra Singh scored before Tetteh added his second.
This was the last match in Srinagar before a 47-day winter break and certainly, Real Kashmir left no stone unturned to make the occasion memorable.
#4 Two goal-less draws as Chennai survive Minerva scare
I-League witnessed a couple of rare goal-less draws this week. But you would be fooled to term those matches as boring. As we’ve already seen some boring goal-less matches in Indian Super League, these two were fiercely competitive one.
The first match between Indian Arrows and Aizawl FC saw a defence-first approach from the junior team. It was a game of two halves as Arrows made all the attacks in the first and Rahil Ali could’ve put them ahead. Aizawl got themselves back into the game in the second but they had no solution on how to break Arrows' defence.
The second match happened at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, where home team Minerva Punjab were taking on league leaders Chennai City. It was an easy match to win for Chennai, considering the form they were in.
But Minerva showed their fighting spirit against a team that boasts some praise-worthy Spanish players. William Opoku and Philip Njoku made all the attacks that kept Chennai busy all the time.
Chennai too had their chances which they failed to take. However, Minerva could’ve pocketed all the three points had Yu Kuboki converted from the spot two minutes before time. But the Japanese striker’s effort was saved by Nauzet Santana to keep Chennai’s unbeaten run intact.
#3 Katsumi enters his name on record-books as Churchill’s unbeaten run ends
Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa – who switched his loyalties from East Bengal to NEROCA FC this season – took just 13 seconds to put his name on I-League record books. His early goal and another one in the second half ensured three points for his side.
The star was missing his form this season as he was injured in the match against his old club East Bengal. After being sidelined for the next two matches, Katsumi got his name back in the starting line-up but failed to leave an impact.
Not all the players on the field settled themselves before Aryn Williams made the cross to Katsumi, who dived forward and headed the ball home. It was like a bolt out of the blue as NEROCA FC fans erupted in joy.
NEROCA FC continued their pressure in the match and could’ve scored a couple of goals more had chances not missed. Khalid Aucho reduced the margin but Katsumi was at it once again as he scored the winner just three minutes before the match to give fans a perfect gift.
#2 Off the field incidents mars on-field action in Kozhikode
Real Kashmir found the headlines for good things they had done so far. Be it the first club from Kashmir to play or their biggest victory in the previous match, the mood in the camp was jubilant. But the Gokulam Kerala match painted a black dot on their white paper.
It all started with the pre-match training session. Real Kashmir alleged a step-motherly attitude from the organisers. A list of their allegations include a) no bus provided by the organisers to reach the training ground; b) the facility of the training ground was worst, to say the least; c) coach and other officials were accused by the groundsmen.
In return, Gokulam reasoned that as it was a ‘Hartal’ day, the bus faced difficulties in reaching the destination. Also, they pointed that, without permission Real Kashmir players and coach tried to invade EMS Stadium, the match venue, which was not allowed for training before a match.
Amid the allegations and counter allegations, the match began on a peaceful note which Gokulam dominated early. They scored in the 20th minute through Pritam Singh and looked for another one. Real Kashmir tried to keep the shape of the defence. However, Surchandra Singh’s stunner in the 69th minute earned a vital away point for Real Kashmir.
#1 East Bengal finally end jinx against Mohun Bagan
On the build-up of the match, the one question that was reverberated around the ‘Maidan’ was, will Sony Norde play the Kolkata Derby?
When Mohun Bagan coach Shankarlal Chakroborty ended speculations in the pre-match press conference saying Norde will not be in the squad, Mohun Bagan supporters were left dumb.
Yes, they have won the derby without Norde even a year ago and have some of the best players in their ranks, but Norde is a kind of player on whom they could easily bet. Their nightmares became true when Mohun Bagan lost the match after 32 months.
It was a victory that East Bengal supporters would cherish for long. For, there was immense pressure on the coach and the new players who knew the club had not won the Derby in the previous seven encounters.
The match saw the emergence of a certain Laldanmawia Ralte, who stole all the limelight with his brace. The young Mizo should now be called the ‘Derby Boy.’ He has made it a habit to score in the Derby.
Jobby Justin once again proved his worth with a fine side-volley goal and a brilliant assist. However, ‘why is he not in the team for the Asian Cup’ is a question that every Indian who loves and follows his country asks.
