Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Assam-born 20-year old Delhi lad, Gaurav Bora did the star turn with two second-half goals, as Chennai City FC won their maiden Hero I-League title, beating defending champions Minerva Punjab FC 3-1 in their final game of the 12th Hero I-League at the Nehru stadium in Coimbatore.

Chennai finished with 43 points, one ahead of Quess East Bengal (QEB), who despite winning their final game in Kozhikode against Gokulam Kerala, saw their dreams of the first-ever title triumph fade away in Coimbatore.

Pedro Manzi, their premiere Spanish striker fittingly scored a goal to join Churchill Brother’s Willis Plaza as the joint top scorer of the league with 21 goals apiece, but the day undoubtedly belonged to the young Gaurav Bora, a versatile defender cum midfielder who capped off a brilliant season with a double-strike when it mattered most for his team.

It did not begin perfectly as Minerva took an early lead in the 3rd minute of the game through Ukranian recruit Roland Bilala. It was off a Juan Querro free-kick from the right flank, that he rose to beat his marker and lodge his header into the back of the net.

Chennai kept pressing thereafter and with Nestor Gordillo missing through suspension, it was left to his fellow Spaniard Sandro Rodriguez to fuel all attacks. He along with Slovakian Jozef Kaplan and Romario Jesuraj, both of whom were constantly switching flanks, were constantly trying to create for Manzi.

For Minerva, most of their openings were being created by Querro from the left flank. The diminutive Spaniard finding goal-scorer Roland again in the 40th minute with a wonderful cross, but the Ukranian could not make most of a free-header this time.

Upon commencement of the second half, Chennai continued to get better control of the game. A Sydney Vanspaul effort in the 53rd minute from distance missed the target, but not by much.

Two minutes later, Chennai got the opening they were looking for on a platter. Akashdeep Singh in an effort to clear inadvertently handled the ball inside the box and referee Santhosh Bhaskaran had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Manzi displayed outrageous confidence in pointing the goalkeeper to the spot where he would be placing the ball and did exactly what to bring Chennai firmly back into title reckoning.

The young Gaurav Bora then made a name for a lifetime with two stunning strikes to put the issue beyond anyone’s doubt. Both goals came off corners taken by Sandro from the right flank.

The first in the 69th minute was earned by Sandro himself who then delivered perfectly and Bora coming in on the far post unmarked connected with a crisp volley to put Chennai ahead.

Then if QEB had any hopes remaining of a dying minute Minerva equaliser, Bora put paid them in the 3rd minute of injury time when off another Sandro corner, he came in and rose to head even more crisply to bulge the back of the Minerva net.

It was a fitting attacking and professional end to a brilliant campaign ably steered by Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas and as Bhaskaran blew for full-time there scenes of emotions and joy all around the stadium.

(I-League Media)

Kozhikode, Kerala: 180 Kilometers further down south from Coimbatore in Kozhikode, Kerala, Quess East Bengal and their Spanish coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia knew they had to win and then leave everything else to fate.

The game began with The Red & Golds understandably on the attack and pressing hard to take an early lead. Their first attempt to score came as early as in the 2nd minute of the game, but QEB were unable to draw first blood.

As the half progressed, however, QEB looked more under pressure to score and the hosts slowly but surely began to take charge. QEB also showcased high quality in defence and along with some stellar goalkeeping by Rakshit Dagar ensured that the hosts did not take a lead.

Gokulam came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, with the closest chance coming in the 39th minute, but an improbable single-handed save by Dagar ensured that Trinidadian striker Marcus Joseph was foiled from close. The half-finished goalless.

QEB began the second half stronger as well and a Didika Ralte effort in the 62nd minute hit the right upright. The hosts, however, stunned the visitors when Marcus scored a wonderful goal off a slick Gokulam move.

Arjun Jayaraj passed ahead to Emmanuel just outside the top of the box and the Nigerian’s deft backheel set Marcus on his way on the left. The Trinidadian drove inside and unleashed an angled left-footer beating Dagar all ends-up.

QEB then increased the pressure and 10 minutes later Jamie Santos Colado restored parity off a penalty and Danmawia then put the Red & Golds ahead in the 85th minute with an opportunistic goal.

However, those two goals were not enough till the end as Chennai City FC romped home to their maiden league crown with the 3-1 win over former champions Minerva Punjab FC in Coimbatore.

(I-League Media)

Imphal, Manipur: In the game between Neroca FC and Real Kashmir FC in Imphal, it was the hosts who drew first blood in the 18th minute through Subash Singh. Neroca FC scored their second goal in the added time (90’ + 4’) through Felix Chidi. Real Kashmir, however, powered by a brace from Danish Farooq (29′, 48′) and Bazie Armand (57′) wrapped the game in style. Danish Farooq was adjudged the Hero of the match for this game.

In the game between Neroca FC and debutants Real Kashmir FC, it were the visitors Real Kashmir FC who pressed hard right from the start. They nearly scored a goal in the 10th minute but an unfortunate foul on the keeper saw the snow leopards goal disallowed.

Neroca FC who mostly attacked on the counter were unable to create a lot of chances thanks to some good defending by Real Kashmir FC. Neroca’s attacks soon yielded results when Subash Singh drew first blood for the hosts in the 18th minute through a pass from Chencho.

Real Kashmir now trailing by a goal started pressing harder but were unable to breach past the Neroca defence. Both the teams were defending well but Real Kashmir kept pressing hard and soon found their equalizer when an accurate pass from Surchandra Singh saw Danish Farooq make no mistake in finding the back of the net in the 29th minute.

The game thereafter was a mix of attacks from both Neroca FC and Real Kashmir FC with the visitors attacking more prominently but either team could not find the lead, as they would have wanted. The first half came to a close with both Neroca FC and Real Kashmir FC tied at 1-1.

At the Khuman Lampak Stadium, it were Real Kashmir who took the attacking lead at the start of the second half. Their pressure soon yielded results as Real Kashmir FC took a 2-1lead in the 48th minute through Danish Farooq who scored his second goal of the game.

Neroca FC, trailing by a goal, now shifted gears and started pressing hard but lack of luck for them and great defending by Real Kashmir FC eluded them from finding the equalizer.

Real Kashmir FC scored their third goal in 57th minute when Bazie Armand headed it in giving the visitors comfortable 3-1 lead. Neroca FC, thereafter, pressed really hard but couldn’t create many opportunities to their favour. Their only consolation was their second goal which happened to come in the added time (90’ + 4’) through Felix Chidi, finally losing the game to Real Kashmir FC 2-3.

With this loss, Neroca FC finish their campaign in the sixth place with 26 points while Real Kashmir FC propel to the third position with 36 points on their debut season.

(I-League Media)

Aizawl, Mizoram: The final day of the Hero I-League saw a cracking double-header being played at 2 PM in Aizawl and Imphal simultaneously. While at Aizawl, it were the hosts Aizawl FC who emerged victorious against Churchill Brothers FC Goa with a 2-1 win, Neroca FC had to suffer a 2-3 loss against a dominant Real Kashmir FC in Imphal.

The game between Aizawl FC and Churchill Brothers FC Goa saw the visitors draw first blood through Willis Plaza in the 4th minute. An unfortunate own goal in the 42nd minute from Hussain Eldor of Churchill Brothers FC Goa saw the equalizer for Aizawl FC. Aizawl then took the lead in the 87th minute through Kromah who made no mistakes in converting a penalty that he had earned for the team to wrap up the game with a win a few minutes later. Aizawl FC goalkeeper Lalawmpuia was adjudged the hero of the match.

The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizwal played host to the game between Aizawl Fc and Churchill Brothers FC Goa. The hosts began the game in their traditional red kit while visitors Churchill Brothers FC Goa played in sky-blue.

Churchill started on an attacking note putting pressure on the home side right from the first minute. They were penetrating deep quite easily into the Aizawl FC defence and the results soon showed when Churchill Brothers FC Goa drew first blood as early as the 4th minute. Willis Plaza scored his 21st goal of the season through a beautiful cross from Nicholas Fernandes to take the scoreboard to 0-1 to Churchill Brothers FC Goa’s favour.

Churchill never really stopped attacking, thereafter, constantly trying to extend their lead, but full marks to Aizwal FC defenders Richard Kassaga and Govin Singh and goalkeeper for not allowing Churchill Brothers to score.

Aizawl FC looked settled by the half-hour mark into the first half and started creating chances through the combination of Issac, Lalrinchhanna constantly supplying to Kromah and Lalkhawpuimawia but Churchill’s defence was always on point disallowing the hosts to come close to any scoring opportunity.

Aizawl who were desperately looking for an equalizer finally managed to get an equalizer in the 42nd minute through an own goal from Churchill’s Hussain Eldor. What was interesting about this goal was the pressure that Aizawl FC created on Churchill’s defence when an outstanding cross from Lalrinchhanna to Lalkhawpuimawia was hastily interrupted by Eldor, but rather than clearing the ball safely, it ended up straight into the goal.

The game thereafter was an equal contest from both the teams bringing in a close to the first half with the scorecard reading 1-1.

The second half between Aizawl FC and Churchill Brothers FC Goa began with the hosts leading the attack to find a lead. Aizawl FC forwards Kromah and Lalkhawpuimawia kept the pressure up on Churchill Brothers but a combination of great defending and goalkeeping from the visitors ensured that Aizawl do not find a way to the back of the net.

Churchill Brothers, on the other hand, started with their attacks on the counter initially and found their way into the box as well, but lack of a good finish saw both the teams tied at 1-1 for a major part of the second half. Aizawl FC finally found their lead when Kromah made no mistake converting a penalty to hand Aizawl FC a 2-1 lead in the 87th minute.

Churchill Brothers FC Goa, thereafter, tried to restore parity but it was already too late. Aizawl FC, with this win, finished their 12th Hero I-League campaign in the 7th place with 24 points while Churchill Brothers FC Goa finished their campaign three places above with 34 points.

(I-League Media)

Aizawl, Mizoram: Aizawl FC piled on the misery on bottom-placed Shillong Lajong FC, when they put four past the visitors at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Aizawl, with Donboklang Lyngdoh’s consolation injury time goal doing little to gloss over a torrid campaign. With this result, Shillong Lajong have now been relegated from 12th Hero I-League.

Aizawl’s Liberian striker Ansumanah Kromah scored his seventh and eighth league goals while Mapuia helped himself to his sixth with Isak also getting onto the scoresheet late in the second half. Donbok then displayed the ‘never stop attacking’ mindset of Shillong’s young group aptly in injury time, with a classy finish.

With 21 points from 19 games, Aizawl now give themselves a realistic chance of finishing two better than their current eighth position.

Both coaches Stanley Rosario of Aizawl and Alison Kharsyntiew of Shillong made three changes each to their starting line-ups. Aizawl brought Gurpreet back in goal while Shillong started with Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Sheen Stevenson up front.

Aizawl dominated from the beginning. In the 28th minute, from a wonderful Isak cross from the right saw a header from Hmingthan Mawia blocked by Kenstar Kharsong in the Shillong defence.

In the 40th minute, however, Kenstar was adjudged to have brought down Kromah inside the box and referee Ibungo Meetei immediately pointed to the spot. Kromah converted without fuss.

The second half began as the first with Aizawl having the better possession and purpose with ideas. Mapuia’s advent in the 64th minute brought even more drive in the Aizawl attack.

Isak had a good chance to score in the 70th minute itself when the ball fell favourably for him near the top of the box but his volley went well over.

Paul picked up the first booking of the game in the 75th minute for Aizawl, a reflection of the intensity displayed on the day.

Mapuia, after missing a golden chance to double the lead for his side in the 76th minute, when keeper Chalieu did well to take him wide and thwart him in a one on one situation, did in fact, achieve his goal in the 81st minute.

It was Isak’s ball again into the box from the right, which fell invitingly for Mapuia who made no mistake to head home.

The third came two miutes later as Kromah got his second of the game. A Kenstar backpass to Chalieu went horribly wrong for the young keeper, as the Liberian poacher made him pay. It was Kromah’s eighth goal of the 12th Hero I-League season.

Isak finally got a well-deserved goal for himself and rounded up the tally with a strike after a brilliant solo square run along the box and then unleashing from the top of the box to bulge the Shillong net with a minute left of regulation time.

Shillong’s first shot on target was affected seconds later by Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Shillong finally had something to show in the third minute of injury time as another substitute Donbok, broke away from his marker inside the box on the left, following a lovely ball from Sheen, to finish sweetly past Gurpreet in the left corner.

Shillong have conceded 53 in the league but many of their 22 scored have been a joy to watch. Aizawl, meanwhile, keep improving under Stanley Rozarion and it should help them in their key campaigns ahead.

(I-League Media)