Mohammedan Sporting Club‘s long wait for their maiden I-League title finally ended on Saturday as they beat Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 in an away match at the SSA Stadium. Winning the title for Mohammedan Sporting in their last match. The win promoted Mohammedan Sporting to the top-tier Indian Super League. The side from Kolkata has now garnered an unassailable 52 points from 23 matches; its closest rivals, Sreenidi Deccan FC, is eight points behind with two games to play.
Alexis Nahuel Gomez scored in the very first minute for the champion, as Douglas Rosa Tardin equalised in the 15th minute for the home team. Evgeni Kozlov scored the winner for Mohammedan in the second half, to secure the title. The equation was simple.
Mohammedan Sporting need a point to secure their maiden I-League title. But it will never be a walk in the park. Shillong Lajong have had their moments this season but are firmly rooted as a mid-table side, sitting seventh in the I-League table with 31 points from 23 games. But its extra motivation to play Spolesport against the top dogs was on ample display.
The job seemed half done, but a lot can happen in 90 minutes, and it was clear from what transpired in the rest of the first half that one goal was not going to be enough for the Black and White Brigade. It took Shillong just over a quarter of an hour to get back into the game, Douglas Tardin’s penalty making it 1-1.
It will be enough for the Mohammedan. Lajong right back Ronney Wilson Kharbudon had the perfect opportunity to put his side in the lead, when Tardin played a ball across the face of the goal, and the former only had to tap it into an empty net. The Mohammedan camp heaved a sigh of relief when he side-footed it inches wide.
