Naihati (WB): This season’s I-League title will be resolved on the final match working day on Saturday as defending champions Gokulam Kerala experienced a beautiful 1-3 defeat at the palms of Sreenidi Deccan in their penultimate championship phase recreation listed here on Tuesday.
Gokulam required just a attract versus Sreenidi to gain the crown and turn out to be the 1st club to protect the title in the record of the 15-calendar year-old I-League. But they slumped to their initial defeat, which arrived at a very important juncture.
No club in the I-League era has defended its title. Kolkata aspect East Bengal had reached the feat in the era of National Soccer League, the predecessor of I-League, by profitable title in 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.
Lalromawia was the star of the match as struck a hat-trick in the 19th, 34th and 37th minutes even though Sharif M Mohammad pulled a single back for Gokulam in the 47th moment.
Gokulam’s defeat intended that the I-League title will when yet again go down the wire. The champion aspect will be resolved in the last championship section match on Saturday amongst Gokulam and Mohammedan Sporting Club, who conquer Rajasthan United 2- previously in the working day at Kalyani.
With the defeat, Gokulam remained static at 40 points when Mohammedan Sporting are positioned 2nd, just three factors guiding on 37.
Sreenidi jumped to fourth put with 29 factors from 17 matches.
In the Mohammedan Sporting vs Rajasthan United match, Brandon Vanlalremdika scored a brace to continue to keep the Black Panthers in the title race.
Mohammedan took the guide in the second moment when Vanlalremdika scored from near array just after getting set up by Shaher Shaheen.
Vanlalremdika concluded his double in the 56th moment as Mohammedan notched their 11th earn in 17 matches. PTI