Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Two successive reversals for defending champions East Bengal have thrown the Kolkata Football League wide open. The five-point lead East Bengal had over Mohun Bagan at the halfway stage (after 11 matches) has been reduced to two points — and Bagan have a match in hand at this stage.
East Bengal currently have 34 points from 14 matches, and Bagan are on 32 from 13. Whoever wins the league has to finish more than three points ahead of the next-placed team; otherwise the top two teams contest a play-off, which is the most likely scenario now.
East Bengal’s first jolt came against, ironically, Bagan, when they drew their match on September 4. The 0-0 draw wouldn’t have made a difference to the leaders had it not been for their surprise loss to Mohammedan Sporting on September 7. As if the 2-1 reversal wasn’t enough, Bagan beat Ever Ready Club 1-0 the day after on September 8. The same team, incidentally, whom East Bengal drew with today.
However, Bagan have a match to play against Mohammedan Sporting, a tough opponent under any circumstance.
The league is wide open, and we might just get the greatest comedown in Indian football history in a month’s time if East Bengal, on a massive high after winning the ASEAN Cup in Indonesia, fail to hold on to their Kolkata Football League trophy.
