I-League Division 2: Full of surprises

The 2nd Division I-League's preliminary round is in full swing in Guwahati, Jamshedpur and Madurai with 21 team fighting for six places in the final round. And there have been numerous surprises and upsets as not all in the three groups is going per plans or expectations. There could be surprise entrants to the final round in Shillong with e.g. further teams from Meghalaya maybe making it to the final round besides the already present Shillong Lajong FC and Sporting Clube de Goa.


Here an overview of the three groups after three to four rounds of matches

Group A - Guwahati:

Group A is a tight affair at this stage with teams having played three to four matches. Nor surprisingly Southern Samity is at the top of the table with seven points from three matches. The Kolkata side were held to an opening round draw by Simla Youngs, but then won against Guwahati Town Club and United Sikkim FC. Surprisingly in second place are Manipur's NISA who won their opening matches against Golden Threads and Guwahati Town Club, but then suffered a loss against United Sikkim FC who happened to score their first win. Close on their heals with five points are Simla Youngs FC and Golden Threads FC, but both already have played four matches; while Guwahati Town Club and United Sikkim FC are on four points with USFC having played a match less. Shillong's Langsning FC looks out of the race with only one point from three matches. But with tight matches and everyone able to beat each other or get a draw anything is still possible in this group with three rounds to go.

Group B - Jamshedpur:

Ar-Hima FC from Shillong are the surprise Group B leaders after three rounds of matches with seven points, while Mohammedan Sporting are second on four points from two games. Next in line are Kenkre FC and Malabar United FC with three points with the Kerala side having played out three draws so far, but Kenkre have played a match less. Sikkim's Denzong Boyz have two points so far; while Sesa Football Academy and Josco FC both have one point from two matches. As in Group A things are very tight and anything is still possible in this group.

Group C - Madurai:

Group C has been one of the most fascinating groups to follow with close contest and loop-sided results, but also a major upset on who is leading after four rounds. The Carlton Chapman coached Royal Wahingdoh SC are top of the group with four wins out of four matches, which in any other group would have meant likely qualification; but in this group there seems to be a three way race on who will qualify for the final round with Techno Aryan Club second on nine points from three matches, while Vasco SC are fourth on six points after their loss in the last round against Royal Wahingdoh. Vasco had opened in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 against Chandni FC and then followed it up by an even bigger 8-0 win against BEML (EM), but then came the surprising loss. Kerala's Eagles FC are third ahead of Vasco with seven points from four matches, but look unlikely to have anything to do with the top two spots, while the other clubs in Chandni FC on a point plus pointless Mumbai's PIFA and BEML (EM) are fighting to not finish last.