Minerva crowned champs

Panchkula, March 8 

Minerva Punjab FC created history by defeating Churchill Brothers FC 1-0 to win their maiden I-League title on a nail-biting final day of the tournament here today. William Opoku Asiedu scored the decisive goal in the 16th minute and the Punjab-based outfit held on to the advantage till the end.

Minerva thus became the first team from Punjab to win the title since the 1996-97 season when the now-defunct JCT claimed the inaugural National Football League which was later re-christened as the I-League.

Minerva finished their campaign with 35 points. Top division debutants Neroca FC finished at the second spot with 32 points following a 1-1 draw with East Bengal in Kolkata. 

Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, took the third spot with 31 points after being held 1-1 by a spirited Gokulam Kerala FC in Kozhikode. East Bengal finished fourth with 31 points due to their head-to-head record with Bagan, having lost in both legs of the Kolkata derby.

Mohun Bagan striker Asier Pierrick Dipanda Dicka finished as the highest scorer this season with 13 goals to his name.  — PTI