Four signs of a dawn of a new rivalry in Indian Football

by Prajkta Tagelly April 9, 2015

It’s very difficult for a coach to lift up entire team with-in few days just after a humiliating 6-0 defeat on your home turf, but Khalid Jamil got the job done from his guys at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore when they faced Bengaluru FC in a 15th round of I-league match. The game ended all square as the hosts had to rely on a late equaliser from Robin Singh to deny Mumbai FC all three points.

It was a match to remember not only for the drama on the field but more so off the field where a bottle was hurled at Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil from the stands. To spice matters up, Jamil decided to hit the ground despite video evidences showing the bottle did not hit the Mumbai FC coach. Amoes Do, the Mumbai FC player decided to hit the stands and settle some scores with them after the crowd gave him some stick after coming on as a a sub. There was bad blood between the fans and the coaches of both teams after the game.

We take a look at certain factors which indicate a dawn of a new rivalry between the two clubs.

1. All Square, always

In the total of four I-League games played between both the clubs, all have ended in draws. Whether it is a home game or away game, both clubs have managed to maintain their unbeaten record against each other. It wont be wrong saying, that in the future if such competition carried on then it would be one of the most awaited fixture in the I-League calender.

2. No clean slates

No goalkeeper has managed to keep a clean sheet in all four matches played between the two sides. Big games are marked with goals and both these sides have produced the goods. Very rarely you will see a derby go goalless. The pattern is similar over here.

3. Late Drama

It has happened twice that the host has scored in the dying minute of the game, earlier the hero was Climax Lawrence, he had scored a 93rd minute equalizer (2-2) for Mumbai FC at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune which was the home ground for Mumbai FC. And once again this time Robin Sign did the same in the 88th minute equalizer (1-1) for Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava stadium, Bangalore. This shows that both teams hate losing against each other and go till the very end.

4. Traditionally there was Calcutta Derby witnessed Lathi charge and fights on the stands, will it be this two clubs follow the tradition.

A rivalry is not always sparked on the football pitch, some events off it like the ones which took place at the Kanteerava yesterday have a bearing on it. When you go unbeaten against an opponent for a long time, it becomes a matter of prestige and a show piece and no one likes their show piece to be broken. Mumbai FC and Bengaluru FC both are moving ahead on similar lines. And this may lead to a perfect competition in coming years.