NOT THE 1ST PHOTO-FINISH

2007-08: Dempo and Churchill both had 33 points going into the final day. Both won; Dempo beat Viva Kerala 4-1 and Churchill tamed Air India 3-0 but Dempo won the first I-League by virtue of better goal difference (22-18).

2008-09: Churchill and Bagan went into the final day on 43 points. Bagan had to win away to Mahindra United and hope Md Sporting beat Churchill in Goa. Neither happened and Churchill emerged champs on 46 points.

2014-15: Bagan went to Bengaluru FC with a two-point advantage (38-36). That meant had Bengaluru won, they would have been champs. The home team went ahead through John Johnson but Bello Razzaq headed in a late equaliser to help Bagan win their only I-League title so far.

2016-17: Again Mohun Bagan took the battle to the last day and were denied by the framework! They lost the league by one point, 36 to Aizawl FC’s 37. That happened because Aizawl FC came back to hold Shillong Lajong away when William Lalnunfela neutralised Dipanka Dicka’s early goal. Dicka hit the post late in the match and Aizawl were crowned champions. Mohun Bagan beat Chennai City FC but it was not enough.