AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: We are almost at the business end of the Indian football season and both the Hero Indian Super League and the Hero I-League teams look to move forward together into the next phase of the respective competitions that they are participating in.
In the end, it all comes down to what transpires on Sunday (February 28), to decide which teams will be fighting it out for the respective league titles, making it a Super Sunday in the truest sense of the word.
A VIRTUAL QUARTER-FINAL & A PLAY-OFF FOR AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN THE HERO ISL
Three of the four semi-final spots in the Hero ISL have already been confirmed. While ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC had already booked their spots earlier, NorthEast United FC qualified on Thursday night, after a 2-0 victory against Kerala Blasters FC.
The fourth spot for the Hero ISL is still up for grab, and interestingly, it will be FC Goa and Hyderabad FC, who will be fighting it out against each other on Sunday (February 28), with the kick-off slated for 5 PM IST, in what will be a virtual quarter-final.
The equation is quite simple for both the sides – a draw would be enough to take FC Goa through to the semi-finals, while Hyderabad FC need the three points in order to make the cut.
The top-spot in the Hero ISL, which brings with it a spot in next year’s AFC Champions League Group Stage, will also be at stake on Super Sunday as the top two sides – ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC – face each other at 7.30 PM IST on Sunday night.
ATK Mohun Bagan currently lead the charts with 40 points from 19 games. However, Mumbai City are just three points behind them, and a win would take the Islander level on points with the Green and Maroons. However, Mumbai had already beaten ATKMB 1-0 back in January, which gives then an advantage in the head-to-head record.
Thus, a win for Mumbai City will hand them top spot, and a place in the AFC Champions League Group Stage. ATK Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, merely need a draw to clinch the Hero ISL League Winners’ Shield, and the AFC Champions League spot.
A THREE-WAY RACE IN THE HERO I-LEAGUE
The Hero I-League has had a slight change in its format in the pandemic-struck season, with the table being divided into two groups – Group A will consist of the top six, while Group B will consist of the bottom five teams.
With just 5⃣ more matches to go in the first phase, here's how the teams stand on the points table 🙌
— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) February 24, 2021
Who are your picks to finish in the Top 6⃣?#HeroILeague 🏆 #LeagueForAll 🤝 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/TJ7JDRDEO2
Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Real Kashmir FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, and RoundGlass Punjab FC have all confirmed their spots in Group A for Phase II of the Hero I-League. With two more Group A spots up for grabs, it’s a three-way tug of war between TRAU FC, Mohammedan SC, and Aizawl FC.
The action gets underway in the Hero I-League on Sunday at 2 PM IST, when Mohammedan take on Real Kashmir at the VYBK, followed by TRAU’s match against Sudeva Delhi at 4.05 PM IST at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium, and Aizawl’s game against Chennai City at 7 PM IST at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium.
The equation is quite simple for both TRAU and Mohammedan Sporting – a win in their respective matches, confirms their spots in the top six. However, in case neither of them winning, they need to ensure a better result than the other, in order to make the cut.
Aizawl, on the other hand, need to win, and hope that either TRAU or Mohammedan drop points, in order to qualify. If both TRAU and Mohammedan lose their respective matches, and Aizawl draw against Chennai in their game, it will be a three-way-tie on (13) points between the three contenders. In such a scenario, the two north-eastern clubs will make the cut for the top six, by virtue of a better head-to-head record.
Once Phase I is over, teams that finish in the top six will play a match each against each other in the round-robin format to determine the champions, while the bottom five teams in Group B will fight it out in a round-robin format to determine who gets relegated.
Points will be carried over from Phase I to Phase II, and Sudeva Delhi FC and Indian Arrows have been granted immunity from relegation.
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