Chennai beat Minerva in final game to clinch title
COIMBATORE: Chennai City were on Saturday crowned champions of the 12th I-league as they came from behind to get the better of defending champions Minerva Punjab 3-1 in their final match. Chasing the leaders, East Bengal finished second despite beating Gokulam Kerala FC 2-1 in Kozhikode.
At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, Roland Bilala had handed Minerva Punjab a shock lead in the third minute. But Pedro Manzi converted from the spot to draw parity in the 56th minute. The 20-year-old Gaurav Bora’s brace (69’ and 90+3’) then sealed the title for the Akbar Nawas-coached side.
Chennai City ended on top of the league table with 43 points, one more than East Bengal who finished second in yet another photo finish. East Bengal’s bid to end their 15-year-old wait for the top-flight title continued even after they won their game against Gokulam Kerala.
MANZI, BORA SHINE
In the last game, Bora did the star turn with two second-half goals.
Manzi, their premiere Spanish striker fittingly scored a goal to join Churchill Brothers’ Willis Plaza as the joint top-scorer of the league with 21 goals, but the day undoubtedly belonged to the young Bora, who capped off a
GD Pts 43 42 36 34 29
brilliant season with a doublestrike.
It did not begin perfectly as Minerva took an early lead in the third minute 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.
Upon commencement of the second half, Chennai controlled the game better.
Chennai got the opening they were looking for on a platter in the 55th minute. Akashdeep Singh in an effort to clear handled the ball inside the box and referee Santhosh Bhaskaran pointed to the spot. Manzi made no mistake to level the score.
Bora then made two stunning strikes to put the issue beyond anyone’s doubt. Both goals came off corners taken by Sandro from the right flank.
In Imphal, Danish Farooq struck twice to guide debutante Real Kashmir FC to a thrilling 3-2 win over Neroca.
Neroca FC finished sixth with 26 points while Real Kashmir FC was third with 36 points.