Did East Bengal lose title within a week?

What a week of I-League football it has been for Kolkata's East Bengal Club. The red-and-gold faced the three top Goan clubs - Dempo SC, Salgaocar SC, Churchill Brothers SC - within seven days and saw their fortunes in the title race fluctuate with all their opponents also having a chance to win the title.

It all started with a bang against Dempo, but the title hopes went up in smoke thereafter with losses against Salgaocar and Churchill Brothers. This once more showed how fast things can change and it was small nuances which will now decide the title race.

East Bengal were one goal down against Dempo SC at home before winning the game 3-2 and after the recent losses of Salgaocar they looked to be the title favourites last Sunday. Then came the match against Salgaocar in Margao in which East Bengal took a 2-0 within 16 minutes and they looked in a strong position, but Salgaocar made a great comeback to win the tie 3-2 which left East Bengal devastated, but nothing had been lost.

Yesterday the match against Churchill Brothers SC was lost 1-2 due to a double strike from Odafe Onyeka Okolie; which seems to have ended all hopes for a first I-League title for the red-and-gold, who had won the National Football League title thrice but their last title was way back in 2003/04.

In theory all is not lost, then if Salgaocar lose their last match and East Bengal win both their games with good margins then it is still possible; but that would be asking a lot. Still it has been a good season for the Kolkata giants who won the Federation Cup and the Calcutta Premier Division.


The results

15-May-2011: East Bengal Club 3-2 Dempo SC (in Kolkata)

19-May-2011: Salgaocar SC 3-2 East Bengal Club (in Goa)

22-May-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 2-1 East Bengal Club (in Goa)