MEG finished the season unbeaten with 29 points from 11 games following nine wins and two draws, while HASC have 18 points from 10 matches with five wins, three draws and two losses.
MEG’s goals came through Suraj Singh in the 21st minute and Lokeshwar Singh in the 33rd, while HASC equalised on the first occasion with Vijesh Kumar netting in the 31st minute and Sanath Kumar’s 76th-minute goal helping them come away with a share of the points.
The physically superior Sappers dominated the early stages with Suraj and Ramu feeding Nguernilal and Lokeshwar from the left. Suraj, who missed a chance in the fourth minute when he fired wide, made amends in the 21st when he smashed a right-footer past HASC custodian Pramod after a Vineet cross from the right.
Ten minutes later, HASC hit back with Vijesh’s tap-in off a Malemngamba Meitei cross from the right. Their celebration was short-lived though, as the Manipuri duo of Nguernilal and Lokeshwar came to the party in the 33rd minute, Lokeshwar slotting in Nguernilal’s cross from the right. The two sides then threatened each other’s defences over the next 12 minutes but success eluded them.
In the second half, the Aircraftmen were more purposeful in their approach as Meitei and James Singh created opportunities. But it was MEG who had the first real scoring chance of the half, in the 55th minute, when Nguernilal fired a Vibin cross wide.
In the 76th minute, Sanath spoilt MEG’s plans of full points when he fired past custodian Amit Shaw after latching on to a Gautam Debnath cross from the right. Both sides went all out for the match-winner but had to end up sharing honours.
In the earlier Super Division match, ASC finished second behind MEG, with 25 points from 11 games, after a 1-0 win over SAI, courtesy Jotin Singh’s goal in the 21st minute. SAI’s remained on seven points from 10 matches after their seventh defeat.