Bengaluru FC clinched their second Hero I-League title in three years this Sunday after defeating Salgaocar FC 2-0 in front of their home crowd at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The Blues headed into the encounter knowing a win would seal the league by giving them an unassailable lead at the summit of the table with one game to spare. FC Pune City’s Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s goal in the first half and a late strike in the second half by Seiminlen Doungel (Delhi Dynamos FC) after Sunil Chhetri (Mumbai City FC) provided a brilliant assist were enough to take the Hero I-League title back to the ‘Garden City’.

Elsewhere, East Bengal played out a 0-0 draw at the Barasat Stadium against Sporting Clube de Goa. Mumbai FC secured a much-needed win in their battle for survival against Shillong Lajong FC at the Cooperage Ground on Sunday after goals from Steven Dias and Minchol Son helped the hosts to a 2-1 win. Aizawl FC also boosted their chances of survival with a 1-0 away win against DSK Shivajians in their final match of season.

Newly crowned champions Bengaluru FC are now on 32 points from 15 games with Mohun Bagan in second on 27 points from 15 matches. East Bengal and Sporting Clube de Goa sit in third and fourth positions having taken 25 and 19 points respectively from their 15 games. The battle for the drop heats up with Aizawl FC, Salgaocar FC and Mumbai FC all tied on 16 points, whereas DSK Shivajians and Shillong Lajong FC sit on 15 points. Of the five teams fighting to avoid the drop, only Aizawl FC’s fate is not in their own hands as they have played all their games this season.