The game began with The Red & Golds understandably on the attack and pressing hard to take an early lead. Their first attempt to score came as early as in the 2nd minute of the game, but QEB were unable to draw first blood.

As the half progressed, however, QEB looked more under pressure to score and the hosts slowly but surely began to take charge. QEB also showcased high quality in defence and along with some stellar goalkeeping by Rakhsit Dagar ensured that the hosts did not take a lead.

Gokulam came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, with the closest chance coming in the 39th minute, but an improbable single-handed save by Dagar ensured that Trinidadian striker Marcus Joseph was foiled from close. The half-finished goalless.

QEB began the second half stronger as well and a Didika Ralte effort in the 62nd minute hit the right upright. The hosts, however, stunned the visitors when Marcus scored a wonderful goal off a slick Gokulam move.

Arjun Jayaraj passed ahead to Emmanuel just outside the top of the box and the Nigerian’s deft backheel set Marcus on his way on the left. The Trinidadian drove inside and unleashed an angled left-footer beating Dagar all ends-up.

QEB then increased the pressure and 10 minutes later Jamie Santos Colado restored parity off a penalty and Danmawia then put the Red & Golds ahead in the 85th minute with an opportunistic goal.

However, those two goals were not enough till the end as Chennai City FC romped home to their maiden league crown with the 3-1 win over former champions Minerva Punjab FC in Coimbatore.

Also Read: Bora takes center stage as Chennai City create history!

Also Read: Real Kashmir to the fore as Farooq brace sinks Neroca

Also Read: Bagan go out on a high against Shillong

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Chennai finished with 43 points, one ahead of Quess East Bengal (QEB), who despite winning their final game in Kozhikode against Gokulam Kerala, saw their dreams of the first-ever title triumph fade away in Coimbatore.

Pedro Manzi, their premiere Spanish striker fittingly scored a goal to join Churchill Brother’s Willis Plaza as the joint top scorer of the league with 21 goals apiece, but the day undoubtedly belonged to the young Gaurav Bora, a versatile defender cum midfielder who capped off a brilliant season with a double-strike when it mattered most for his team.

It did not begin perfectly as Minerva took an early lead in the 3rd minute of the game 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.

Chennai kept pressing thereafter and with Nestor Gordillo missing through suspension, it was left to his fellow Spaniard Sandro Rodriguez to fuel all attacks. He along with Slovakian Jozef Kaplan and Romario Jesuraj, both of whom were constantly switching flanks, were constantly trying to create for Manzi.

For Minerva, most of their openings were being created by Querro from the left flank. The diminutive Spaniard finding goal-scorer Roland again in the 40th minute with a wonderful cross, but the Ukranian could not make most of a free-header this time.

Upon commencement of the second half, Chennai continued to get better control of the game. A Sydney Vanspaul effort in the 53rd minute from distance missed the target, but not by much.

Two minutes later, Chennai got the opening they were looking for on a platter. Akashdeep Singh in an effort to clear inadvertently handled the ball inside the box and referee Santhosh Bhaskaran had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Manzi displayed outrageous confidence in pointing the goalkeeper to the spot where he would be placing the ball and did exactly what to bring Chennai firmly back into title reckoning.

The young Gaurav Bora then made a name for a lifetime with two stunning strikes to put the issue beyond anyone’s doubt. Both goals came off corners taken by Sandro from the right flank.

The first in the 69th minute was earned by Sandro himself who then delivered perfectly and Bora coming in on the far post unmarked connected with a crisp volley to put Chennai ahead.

Then if QEB had any hopes remaining of a dying minute Minerva equalizer, Bora put paid them in the 3rd minute of injury time when off another Sandro corner, he came in and rose to head even more crisply to bulge the back of the Minerva net.

It was a fitting attacking and professional end to a brilliant campaign ably steered by Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas and as Bhaskaran blew for full-time there scenes of emotions and joy all around the stadium.

Also Read: Real Kashmir to the fore as Farooq brace sinks Neroca

Also Read: Bagan go out on a high against Shillong

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The equation is very simple for both sides. If Chennai win against defending champions Minerva Punjab FC at their home ground, the Nehru Stadium in Coimbatore, they will land a maiden national crown in remarkably, just their third year in the league. Even a draw can see them through, provided QEB do not win at the EMS Corporation Stadium against Gokulam Kerala FC.

QEB, on the other hand, have to win and will be hoping Minerva do them a favour by beating Chennai. For the record, after 19 games each, Chennai are on 40 and QEB on 39 points respectively. Both games begin simultaneously at 5 PM IST.

It will be history making of contrasting styles for both sides. For the Kolkata-based QEB, who go into their centenary year next year, the Hero I-League crown is missing and is probably the one dark spot in a glittering and rich history. It is something their legion of die-hards are willing to exchange for most of their 130 trophies, including three international crowns, that the famous club has won so far.

For Chennai City FC, founded by two young football-loving owners based out of Chennai, this will be nothing short of a dream. The club has exhibited immense vision in its short existence, right from the appointment of and freedom given to Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas to scout and build the team for this season, to getting on board top European club FC Basel as part owners of the club in a landmark deal earlier in the year.

There are however two 90-minute games of top division competitive football still to be played before either Chennai or QEB can think about celebrations.

In Coimbatore, Chennai will sorely miss Nestor Gordillo, a key member of a troika of attack-minded Spaniards in the Chennai ranks. League joint top scorer Pedro Manzi and Sandro Rodriguez being the other two. The trio has accounted for 37 of Chennai’s 45 goals.

The value of Nestor to the team is far beyond his eight goals and nine assists delivered in the campaign thus far. His vision, trickery and passing ability has rarely been seen in an Indian domestic football season in the recent past.

Minerva, who will be playing their last game as defending Hero I-League champions, after a stormy season which saw foreign players recruited and discarded so frequently, that even the most ardent followers have lost count, have worn a settled look over the past couple of games though. No surprise then that the one win in their last 11 Hero I-League games also came in one of those.

Minerva love to win titles and with the Super Cup coming up next, the Chennai defence could be all set to be the highest conceding defence of a Champion team if they win the crown, and the ‘Warriors’ from Punjab will fancy their chances as party-poopers as well as to put them in good stead for the knockout tournament ahead.

Further down south in Calicut, the Malabarians of Gokulam Kerala FC find themselves in a similar situation as Minerva and no surprise, therefore, that they also have the same points and just one position apart on the points table.

Like Minerva, while they have maintained a small core of Indian players throughout the league, their foreign player composition is drastically different from what they started out with. Marcus Joseph, the top scorer of the Trinidadian pro-league, has been the most welcome addition and has scored five times in his eight starts since coming in.

Even that might not be enough for a QEB in prime form and coached most magnificently by Spaniard Alejandro Menendez Garcia. The Red & Golds have won five of their last seven games and more importantly have looked a thoroughly professional and well-oiled unit with multiple players identified in all key positions.

Coach Garcia has also displayed sound tactical acumen and has been able to bring out the best from not only his foreign recruits but also the Indian players. Didika Ralte and Danmawia Ralte have been revelations this season and Enrique Esqueda has been a man transformed since returning from a mid-season injury break.

The only sore point from the Red & Golds perspective will be local Kerala lad and the league’s highest Indian goal-scorer Jobby Justin missing out due to suspension. It might become crucial in the end calculations.

As far as the main coaches in focus are concerned, Garcia presented the more calmer picture while Akbar of Chennai acknowledged pressure on the players in the pre-match press conference.

The excitement is palpable and eyes of all football lovers come Saturday, will be remain focused on the South of the country, to see who wears the coveted Hero I-League crown.

Also Read: Joseph winner helps Gokulam steer clear of relegation

Also Read: Esqueda and East Bengal take title race to final day!

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Esqueda was out of action after suffering a broken rib following a 3-1 win over Gokulam Kerala FC in December 2018. But the way the Mexican forward scored the first goal against Real Kashmir FC in a 2-1 win on February 28, 2019, indicated the prolific form that he has been in recently.

The Mexican did return and with astounding stats – 78% pass accuracy, 0.8 goal average and 0.2 assist average to help the Red and Golds in their quest. That coupled with 8 goals and 2 assists to his name in the Hero I-League has only added to his pedigree as a player. And resoundingly, Esqueda has been involved in 38% of the attacking play that resulted in a goal for East Bengal.

55% dribble accuracy this season perhaps is of little help to Enrique’s goal – the Hero I-League. As it stands, Chennai City FC lead the table with 40 points and a win for Chennai City FC will hand them the title regardless of East Bengal’s result against Gokulam Kerala FC. However, a draw or a loss for Chennai City FC and a win for the Red and Gold will lead them to the tile. Esqueda would certainly hope for the latter.

Ahead of their match against Gokulam Kerala FC, Alejandro Menedez, Head Coach of East Bengal, was asked about Esqueda’s importance to the team. He said, “He has been an important figure in our setup. However, it is also important to note that one player is important.”

“I am really happy that our foreigners are in good form and contributing to the team’s cause,” he added.

Also Read: Joseph winner helps Gokulam steer clear of relegation

Also Read: Esqueda and East Bengal take title race to final day!

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Laldanmawia Ralte, Lalrindika Ralte, Brandon Vanlalremdika and Lalram Chullova have all been key players for East Bengal in the current Hero I-League, which can very well see the ‘Red and Gold’ lift the trophy – given Chennai City FC drop points against Minerva Punjab FC, and Quess East Bengal win against Gokulam Kerala FC.

After spending two seasons away, it was a homecoming for Lalrindika Ralte when he signed for QEBFC for the current season. The other three players joined the Kolkata giant in 2017 from former Hero I-League champions Aizawl FC, and this assimilation built a great bonding flavour in the Red and Gold camp.

While the Red and Gold dressing room has players is a wonderful symphony of cosmopolitan culture, the little chats or convenient interactions in mother tongue for the Mizoram players helps them to connect better. The hard work during training and the relaxed dressing room environment has shown its colours on the bright performance of the Mizo Brigade.

After an eight-match unbeaten streak, Quess East Bengal sit a point adrift of leaders Chennai City, with 39 points. With March 9 being the showdown, the Mizo Quartet will play a vital role to ensure Quess East Bengal FC success and lift the coveted I-League championship.

Also Read: Joseph winner helps Gokulam steer clear of relegation

Also Read: Esqueda and East Bengal take title race to final day!

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With East Bengal breathing down their necks, Akbar Nawas’ side is on the cusp of creating history and all eyes will be on their star forward Pedro Manzi, who has had a breathtaking debut season in Indian football.

The Spaniard, who has scored 20 goals so far, is tied with Churchill Brothers’ Willis Plaza at the top of the Highest Scorers’ race, and if things go according to his plan on Saturday, he can end up with two trophies to cherish for a lifetime.

I-League.org caught up with the 30-year-old marksman for an exclusive chat ahead of the deciding clash. Here are some excerpts.

Q) What are your thoughts on the season so far? Were you expecting to be on top in the final rounds of the season?

PM) We have worked hard to be where we are at this moment on the table. Our philosophy is to go out and win all the matches, and so yes, I have to say we expected to be fighting for the title, come the end of the season.

Q) Your partnership with your Spanish compatriots has been talked about a lot. What are your thoughts on it?

PM) We’ve known each other for years now! We have played together in Spain, which certainly makes things easier on and off the pitch. However, it’s not just about the association between us foreign players – the domestic Indian players also form an important part of the team and have a major role to play.

Q) What are your thoughts on the Indian players in the team? Do you feel they have the potential to make it big in the coming years?

PM) Definitely, the Indian players in the team are full of potential. There are a number of young talents such as Romario Jesuraj, Ajith Kumar, etc. who are constantly improving and help the team perform better in the competition.

Q) What has coach Akbar Nawas’ role been in the team’s strong performance?

PM) The coach has played an extremely important role, especially considering the fact that we are trying to play with a philosophy that is very different from the one played here in India. He has assessed the strengths of each player excellently and turned us into a cohesive unit.

Q) What would being the top scorer and possible league champion mean to you professionally and personally?

PM) Being the golden boot winner is obviously a huge honour but the most important thing is to win the league. The team has worked really hard to get where we are and we just need to keep up the spirit and give our best in the last Hero I-League match. From there, we will look to carry forward our momentum into the Hero Super Cup.

Also Read: Joseph winner helps Gokulam steer clear of relegation

Also Read: Esqueda and East Bengal take title race to final day!

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With this win, Quess East Bengal are just a point shy of table toppers Chennai City FC, who along with the Red and Golds, would play their last league game on March 9, 2019. Enrique Esqueda scored the winning goal for Quess East Bengal in the 75th minute.

While Quess East Bengal now travel to Kozhikhode to play Gokulam Kerala FC on the ninth, Chennai City FC will host defending champions Minerva Punjab for their game on the same day. Both these games are slated for a 5 pm kick-off.

Arashpreet Singh found his way back in goal, while Sreyas VG and Moinuddin Khan found themselves in the playing XI in place of Makan Chothe and Prabhjot Singh respectively. Quess East Bengal, on the other hand, made two changes in the form of Salam Ranjan Singh and Toni Dovale, who found their way back in the starting XI in place of a suspended Borja Gomez and Brandon Vanlalremdika, respectively.

The defending champions started the game on a pressing note and enjoyed a good spell of possession in the first few minutes, but Quess East Bengal did not allow the hosts an inch in midfield. The game was mostly played in the middle of the park in the first quarter.

Quess East Bengal, with their urgency for a win, did try pressing high but full marks to the organised defence of Minerva, who ensured that the visitors do not get an opportunity to draw first blood. The Warriors, on the contrary, started pressing high in phases, but could not create any threatening moments.

Esqueda, Santos and Ralte combined well to come close to scoring twice, but some great keeping by Arshdeep and the woodwork played a critical role in ensuring that the first 45 minutes of the game remained goalless.

The second half began with Quess East Bengal taking the initiative to go into the lead, but they couldn’t breach the Minerva defence on most occasions. Minerva, on the other hand, kept attacking in short bursts through the combination of Juan Quero and Sreyas VG, but failed to find an opportunity to take the lead.

QEB, however, came really close to scoring on a couple of occasions but some exceptional goalkeeping by Minerva’s Arashdeep ensured that the visitors did not get the elusive goal. Minerva, who were playing a very organised game, somehow gave way to the visitors, when a wrong clearance saw Enrique Esqueda made no mistake in grabbing the opportunity and find the back of the net in the 75th minute.

The game, thereafter, saw both the teams playing on an attacking note, with the former champions aiming for an equalizer, while Quess East Bengal hoped for an insurance goal. The game finally came to an end with Minerva Punjab FC losing 0-1 to Quess East Bengal.

Also Read: East Bengal deliver KO to Real Kashmir!

Also Read: Edu Garcia leads ATK to 2-1 win over Delhi

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A win for the Coimbatore-based club is enough to win their maiden national league title in just four years of existence and besides Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas and a host of quality Spanish players, they would have to thank striker Pedro Manzi the most, one would want to believe.

The Spanish sniper has been in phenomenal goal-scoring form in the league campaign overcoming a minor injury scare in between to score 19 times including four hat-tricks.

In fact, it will be billed as a game between the two most prolific strikers of the league, Manzi’s Trinidadian counterpart in the Churchill ranks, Willis Plaza, having netted 18 times for the ‘Red Machines’ this season. The two will be in a dogfight to finish with the maximum goals under their belt with just a game more to play.

Churchill are placed fourth at the moment, with 31 points and a win on Friday could catapult them to the second position.

On the other hand, the visiting team, Chennai City FC, who have recently tied up with FC Basel 1893, are top of the table with 40 points from 18 games so far, with Quess East Bengal (QEB) four points behind in the second spot.

Churchill’s Romanian coach Petra Gigiu said on match day eve, “I will be very happy if we finish on the podium. There are quite a few players like Rowilson Rodrigues, keeper Vigneshwaran Baskaran, Nallappan Mohanraj, Richard Costa who will not be playing tomorrow’s match. Hussain Eldor might join tomorrow’s match. We are happy with our performance this season, compared to the last season.”

Akbar Nawas seemed to more raring to go expressing in the pre-match media conference, “The most important thing for me and the team is to win tomorrow’s match. We want to win every match and become the champion. We want to finish the league on a good note.”

“The secret of our success is training. Churchill is one of those teams which is hard to play. Some of the teams are overly physical but Churchill is a good team with a good coach and mix of players. I think we have good Spanish and Indian players who get along well.”

The simplest equation for Chennai City is to pick up one win from their remaining two matches. That will take them up to 43 points, more than anything QEB can possibly reach.

Chennai, who have been unbeaten at home all season, can wrap up the title with a victory either against Churchill Brothers or Minerva Punjab FC in Coimbatore in the last game.

The Goans will take heart from the fact that arguably the best team of the season have not beaten them so far, their first leg encounter ending in a 2-2 stalemate, where Churchill were done by an own-goal.

On paper, at this stage, Chennai go in as clear favorites but funnier things have happened in football, especially when the title is in sight.

Also Read: East Bengal deliver KO to Real Kashmir!

Also Read: Jamshedpur FC show class against inexperienced Bengaluru FC side

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Enrique Esqueda was adjudged the Hero of the Match, after he put the Red and Golds ahead early in the first half, before setting up his Spanish teammate Jamie Santos Colado for the second, as the Kolkata Giants ran away with a win.

This result takes QEB to 36 points from 18 games, just four behind league leaders Chennai City FC, who have played the same number of matches. As it currently stands, East Bengal need to win their remaining two matches and hope that Chennai do not pick up more than a point from their last two games.

For Chennai, however, the equation is simple. A point each from their last two games would see them lift the title at the end of the season by virtue of a better head-to-head record against the side from Kolkata.

The Red and Golds got off to a swift start, keeping large bouts of possession in the opening exchanges. Their efforts paid dividends in the 20th minute itself, when Danmawia curled in a cross at the Kashmir far post from a Lalram Chullova through ball, for Mexican forward Enrique Esqueda to nod home.

Real Kashmir could not find their footing in the game at this stage and resorted to route-one football hoping that their Scottish forward Mason Robertson would hold up the ball and distribute it to the rest.

However, they soon received a massive blow to their endeavors, when Kofi Tetteh was sent off for dissent after he was already shown a yellow card for a foul on QEB defender Johnny Acosta.

That gave QEB the momentum for the rest of the half, and they managed to double their lead minutes before the referee blew his whistle for the half-time breather.

QEB’s Spanish playmaker Jamie Santos Colado played Esqueda through inside the Kashmir area before the latter crossed it back to the Spaniard, who volleyed it home with great aplomb.

Despite being down to 10 men, Kashmir came out with a lot of initiative in the second half. However, it was East Bengal, who had the clearer chance on the hour mark, when Danmawia made a decoy run off a Colado ball, to find himself one-on-one with Real Kashmir keeper Bilal Khan. However, the Danmawia’s shot was parried away by the custodian.

Minutes later, the Snow Leopards got the perfect chance to get back in the game when QEB goalkeeper Rakshit Daggar brought Bazzie Armand down inside his own area. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot, and Aaron Katebe made no mistake as he slotted it home from the spot.

Real Kashmir gaffer David Robertson brought on striker Gnohere Krizo in the last 10 minutes, hoping to draw level with a two-pronged attack. However, QEB managed to hold on to their slender lead, bringing the Snow Leopards’ Hero I-League title hopes to an end.

Also Read: ISL title will make consistent Goa complete

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Although both the teams have recently fallen behind leaders Chennai City FC in the title race, all options are still open to both teams if they win all their last three games, and if Chennai drop points.

The match, which will be the first for this edition of the country’s top flight football league to be played in the National Capital, will kick off at 2 pm IST.

The decision to host the game in Delhi was taken at the AIFF League Committee Meeting at Football House in Delhi on Monday, February 25, after Real Kashmir informed in writing that they wanted to play their tie against East Bengal on February 28 at a neutral venue.

Both teams are coming off a draw in their respective previous games and need to up their game significantly, given the important nature of the clash.

The ‘home team’ Real Kashmir now have 33 points from 17 games and maintained their unbeaten record on the road as they stole a crucial point against Indian Arrows following the 2-2 draw at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar three days back.

Visitors QEB are placed second from the same number of games and with the same number of points as Real Kashmir (33) but are ahead on goal difference.

David Robertson, the Real Kashmir coach, has been very effective and has strategically used his players, seeking creative solutions. Striker Krizo and the likes of Kofi Tetteh and Mason Robertson have proved effective. Robertson, who started off in deep defence, has shown a keen eye for goal and scored four goals so far.

With a different ambiance in Delhi, Kashmir might be able to affect the confidence of QEB players, compounded with the fact that they are one of the best defensive sides in the tournament.

Real Kashmir coach, David Robertson said, ” We are in a good momentum, getting the results, playing well. Both the teams want to play and win. Fantastic journey, unbeaten away from home, we are happy. No better way to keep the benchmark by playing against East Bengal, particularly at JLN Stadium.”

In the process, the two sides go back to where it all began for them in this season’s league campaign. In the first game between the two, both teams played out a draw.

On the other hand, the ‘visiting’ side under Spanish coach Alejandro Garcia has played some good percentage, professional football, with each player executing his given role to the best of his ability. The coach has displayed sound tactical knowledge and seems to be getting the best out of his squad of players.

East Bengal head coach Alejandro said, “When you play again in a short span of time less than 72 hours, it is not enough to get high quality from our players, but we are fully motivated and almost recovered from the last match and ready to play tomorrow.”

QEB have slipped in the league title race of late, following back-to-back stalemates at home, and would also miss the league’s most prolific Indian striker Jobby Justin for Thursday’s game.

Enrique Esqueda, the Mexican striker, is in good form, however, and QEB will depend a lot on him on Thursday.

The match is as good as a semi-final clash as it could decide whether Quess East Bengal will ensure title contention or Real Kashmir would once again look to topple Chennai City FC on the points table.

Also Read: ISL title will make consistent Goa complete

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