Kerala Blasters fans can only pray that dame luck smiles on the Yellow Brigade. ISLMumbai: As expected, debutants Bengaluru FC (BFC), who opted to join the India Super League (ISL) bandwagon after a four-year-long spell in India’s top division I-League, was the first to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing ISL edition.
Two-time champions of the I-League, winners of the Federation Cup and finalists in the AFC Cup, the Sunil Chhetri-led side sits proudly at the top of the league table.
BFC have garnered 37 points from 17 matches and enjoy a 12-point lead over second-placed Pune City FC, who have also booked their first ever semifinal berth by virtue of their head-to-head record against other contenders. Chennaiyin FC too have 29 points, and look well placed to make the semis, leaving the race for the remaining one spot extremely tight.
As many as four teams - Jamshedpur FC, Kerala Blasters, FC Goa and Mumbai City FC - who are in with a chance of making the top four, are currently engaged in an interesting game of musical chairs to grab the fourth spot.
At the end of the league stage, four teams could end up with 29 points from 18 matches.
Here are the permutations:
1. If Pune City FC lose their last match against Delhi Dynamos, they will remain on 29.
2. If Chennaiyin lose to Mumbai City FC, they too will finish on 29.
3. If Jamshedpur FC manage to beat FC Goa, their total tally will be 29.
4. If Mumbai City FC win their remaining two matches, they will finish with 29 points.
If two teams are tied with same points, their head-to-head records will come into play. Since Pune have registered four wins against both Mumbai and Jamshedpur, their place in the last four is secured. In such a scenario, Chennai and Jamshedpur will also advance, while Mumbai will exit.
Blasters’ slim hopes
Had Blasters managed to earn just one more point, they would also have found themselves in the '29 club'. Blasters, who have 25 points now, will get a maximum of 28 points even if they beat BFC in the final league tie. Now the Kochi-based side can only pray and hope, looking at these multiple equations:
1. ATK vs FC Goa (A win for ATK or a draw)
2. FC Goa vs Jamshedpur FC (A win for Goa or a draw)
3. Mumbai should lose or draw at least one of their remaining two matches
Among these four, Goa is the only team who can qualify regardless of results elsewhere. If Goa win their remaining two ties, they will have 30 points, which will earn them an automatic qualification.
