CHENNAI: The match was yet to start but a huge roar emanated from the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri. The stadium announcer, after naming the starting line-ups, had one more titbit that had both sets of fans united in euphoria. The final score at the Kanteerava Stadium was Bengaluru FC 1, Aizawl FC 0. That result would make this the most significant Kolkata derby in years.
Whoever went home with all three points would also do so in pole position in what is one of the most exciting I-League title races. In the end, that team turned out to be Sanjoy Sen’s Mohun Bagan, as they cruised to a 2-1 win due to goals from Haitian talisman Sony Norde and youngster Azharuddin Mallick. They now find themselves just a point behind leaders Aizawl with a game in hand.
While few would have predicted that at the start of the season, Sunday was Indian football’s answer to the ‘Super Sunday’ that the English Premier League often unleashes on us. Four teams, around whom most of the narrative this season had revolved, were taking on each other. There was Aizawl FC with their fairytale season, the team that was not even supposed to be there in the league this year, within a few wins of winning the title. Then there was Bengaluru, the fallen giants who found themselves with one last chance of influencing the title race this season. And over in West Bengal, there were the two giants, both bidding to make statements of defiance at a time when ISL is threatening their very existence.
Both matches were studies in contrast. In the first one, victory was rather undeserved, the protagonist unexpected. Bengaluru had been on the backfoot since their most potent attacking threat, Udanta Singh, had to come off. The scorer, Marjan Jugovic, was not exactly the first name the West Block Blues would have written down in their list of potential heroes. Over in Siliguri, the man who made a difference was exactly who everyone thought it would be — Norde. The 27-year-old is one of the best foreign players to ever have graced the I-League, and he was at his unstoppable best on Sunday. Likewise, the 1-2 scoreline rather flattered East Bengal. On another day, they would have let in three or four.
Aizawl still has a significant role to play in this race, but the title is Bagan’s to lose now. If both teams reach Aizawl on April 23 unscathed, that is where the title race will be decided in a direct shootout. East Bengal, though down, is certainly not out. Their remaining fixtures are against lesser teams, and the Red and Gold Brigade will be waiting for the two teams ahead of them to slip up.
vishnu.prasad@newindianexpress.com