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What's the story?
The ongoing I-League is at its business end and there are still three possible contenders for the title. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has changed the dates of the matches involving the top teams including East Bengal, Minerva Punjab, and NEROCA FC.
In case you didn't know...
The I-League is in its final rounds and there is still no confirmation about who will grab the rights on the coveted trophy, the remaining fixtures become even more interesting. Minerva Punjab had the best chance to secure the title but the slip against Gokulam FC was a setback to their hopes. Debutants NEROCA FC still has an outside chance but they have to depend on other results as well. Kolkata giants East Bengal has to win all their matches to stay in the hunt.
The heart of the matter
As per the reports, three title contenders will play their penultimate match on the last match day of the I-League. The Red and Gold brigade was scheduled to play against current leaders NEROCA FC on February 27 in Kolkata, but the match has now been shifted to March 8. Minerva Punjab will play their last match against Churchill Brothers at Panchkula on the same day at the same time. The third change is the match between East Bengal and Shillong Lajong FC which will be played on March 5 instead of March 7 at 5.30 pm instead of 2 pm.
What's next?
NEROCA FC has accumulated 31 points from 17 matches and is sitting at the top of the points table but Minerva Punjab has a better chance of clinching the title playing a couple of matches lesser with 29 points. Meanwhile, East Bengal has 26 points from 15 matches and still has a home match left against NEROCA FC.
Author's take
This year has been full of surprises and the action is still not over. Minerva Punjab will re-create an Aizawl FC script if they manage to win at least two of their matches and not lose the other one. East Bengal is the team which has not won a National League title for more than a decade. To sum it up, we are in for a treat in the last rounds of the I-League.
