Peerless SC pipped East Bengal to the runners-up spot in the CFL Premier Division ‘A’ for the first time in the club’s history. They beat Aryan 1-0 in their last league game on Tuesday to seal the second spot.
The win - their eighth overall - helped Peerless finish their campaign with 25 points from 11 matches, two points more than East Bengal. Mohun Bagan, of course, made sure of the the title by ending their campaign unbeaten and with 29 points, thereby ending East Bengal’s eight-season reign in CFL.
Requiring a win to clinch the second spot, Peerless looked for an early breakthrough. But Aryan - who eventually finished eighth with 14 points - held firm. Peerless, however, were not be denied in the second half when Ansumana Kromah scored the all-important goal in the 67th minute.
This is for the first time since 2015 when a team outside the Big Three clubs finished in the top two. Army XI finished in the top two. Army XI finished behind champions East Bengal in 2015.
With Biswajit Bhattacharya having assumed charge of the team at the start of the season, Peerless proved to be the hard nut to crack throughout the tournament and remained unbeaten against the Big Three. While they drew with Mohun Bagan, Bhattacharya’s side stunned Mohammedan Sporting as well as East Bengal.
Bhattacharya stepped down immediately after the win over East Bengal, citing differences with club officials and Peerless played their last four matches without a coach.
Bottom-four teams - Pathachakra, Tollygunge Agragami, FCI and West Bengal Police - were relegated to Premier Division ‘B'. Although Pathachakra beat WB Police 4-0 on Tuesday, it was not enough for them to beat the drop as they finished ninth with 13 points, just one point behind Aryan.
Southern AC became champions in the fifth division, beating YMCA 2-0 in the final.
Biswajit Bhattacharya's coaching acumen should be recognized now. Without belittling Shankarlal' achievements, it can be said that Peerless' good show against the big three was a factor in MB' successful show (although EB's losing steam in later stage was also a contributor). But he should control his ego at the same time -- he didn't win the league for the club -- for all his tantrums.
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Peerless pip East Bengal to second spot in CFL
Requiring a win to clinch the second spot, Peerless looked for an early breakthrough. But Aryan - who eventually finished eighth with 14 points - held firm. Peerless, however, were not be denied in the second half when Ansumana Kromah scored the all-important goal in the 67th minute.
Southern AC became champions in the fifth division, beating YMCA 2-0 in the final.