After the game between IOCL and BPCL ending in a draw 1-1, it looks almost certain that IOCL will top the pool table and thereby win Rs. 2 lakh prize money in the Super Division League at Bangalore which closes on Saturday. They just need a draw in their last match against Air India tomorrow, to start their celebrations a day ahead of the League closure.
With 8 wins and 1 draw from 9 matches, IOCL stands at 25 points with a GD +35. BPCL, on the other hand, are 2nd in the table with 7 wins and 2 draws at 23 points from their 9 matches. Their GD is +23. Air India standing 3rd in the table, are at 21 points with 7 wins from their 8 matches. Their GD is +20.
The only chance for Air India is to beat both IOCL and Army Red in their last 2 games and thereby finishing with 27 points. They win the league in such a case.
Even if IOCL play a draw with Air India tomorrow, they stand at the top. They have a far more superior Goal Difference compared to BPCL if there is a tie on points.
For BPCL, it looks a little far-fetched. Their immediate wish would be to see Air India beating IOCL. A win against Namdhari in their last game, will be followed by another wish that Army Red hold Air India to at least a draw in the last game of the league.
So, IOCL needs a draw in the game tomorrow and Air India can’t afford to lose their last 2 games.
The way IOCL have excelled in this league, they are the clear favorites. Along with Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot and Inderjit Chadha making a dreadful combination in the forward line, IOCL also boasts of fit bench strength. In spite of their key full back Jaswinder Singh injured, the defense looks strong as ever. Tournament’s highest scorer, Raghunath, remains unstoppable with his drag flicks. But, IOCL will have to avoid early goals, certainly. As seen in today match’s against BPCL, they tend to break as a team when they trail.
Air India, on the other hand, with 11 individually brilliant players, has shown little promise as a team. Their midfielders lack coordination with the defense and the forward line, thus leaving huge gaps at the center of the pitch.
With 3 nervous matches in a row – a narrow 1-0 win against minnows SAI, a last minute win over Namdhari and 6-2 drubbing by BPCL – Air India needs to do a lot more to patch up their wide openings in the field. Arjun Halappa and Vikram Pillay will need much more support (and running) in the flanks from Gurbaj and Cheeyana. Furthermore, the forwards of Air India have a multiple job to perform considering the fact that, when required, within seconds, the whole IOCL team switches into defense.
All said and done, with stakes in favor of IOCL, tomorrow’s match is one that should draw the maximum crowd to the stadium.