JOIN USBFC a win away from coronation
Bengaluru FC are just a win away from lifting the I-League title in their debut season after challengers East Bengal tripped up against relegation-threatened Churchill Brothers here on Wednesday.
Third-placed East Bengal, BFC’s only real threat in the race to the title, lost 0-1 and the Bangalore outfit can wrap up the title if they defeat Dempo SC on April 21. BFC can be champions as early as April 19 itself, if East Bengal lose to Pune FC on that day.
BFC are on 41 points, four ahead of East Bengal after 22 games while Churchill moved to 12th with 22 points.
Churchill, who badly needed to win to stay out of relegation zone, had custodian Lalit Thapa to thank for the close victory at Fatorda Stadium where Raju Yumnam scored the only goal of the game in the 23rd minute.
East Bengal went with an unchanged line-up that triumphed against Pune FC, while the Red Machines opted to play both Balwant Singh as well as Anthony Wolfe upfront in an attacking line-up.
After Yumnam put the hosts ahead with a left-footed strike, a free-kick from Saran Singh almost gave them a 2-0 lead.
East Bengal, who were not in the contest in the first-half, came into their own in the second half. First Edeh Chidi was put through on goal but Thapa thwarted the chance before pulling off a superb save in injury save off Ryuji Sueoka to hand Churchill a priceless three points.
Glen stars for Shillong
A Cornell Glen hat-trick (16th, 43rd, 74th) inspired Shillong Lajong to a 5-4 victory against Mohammedans at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan at Kolkata.
Mohammedans took the lead through Ashwin Biswas in the 5th minute but were soon a man down as goalkeeper Luis Barreto tripped Boithang Haokip inside the box and got his marching orders in the 12th minute. Glen levelled from the penalty spot before Subash Singh (29th, 69th) put the visitors in front.
Penn Orji (34th) equalised soon after but Glen stole the show in the second-half.