Army Service Corps (ASC) blew the title race wide open after drubbing aspirants Students Union 4-1 in the BDFA Super Division league at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Friday.
A win would have sealed the title for Students but they were in for a shock as ASC seized the initiative and drove home the advantage. The Students, who suffered their first defeat, are still on top of the points table with 20 points from nine games. They have completed their league assignments. ASC are second with 17 points from eight matches and are still in the reckoning for the title.
MEG, who are a close third with 16 points and have two more games to play, can also soar to the top, giving a touch of intrigue to the last few matches.
MEG clash with ASC on March 16 followed by their last match against Accountants General's Office Recreation Club on March 18. ASC, with a goal difference of plus-five, can with the title if they defeat MEG by a good margin, which would help them to leap-frog Students (goal difference of plus-6).
The Students fans who thronged the Bengaluru Football Stadium in large numbers anticipating their triumph were in for a shock when midfielder Sreejith opened the scoring for ASC in the 22nd minute. Dawa added another two minutes later as they raced to a 2-0 lead before half-time.
Nanda then reduced the gap with a goal (51st) for Students in the second period. However, two back-to-back goals from substitute Neeraj secured the tie for ASC.
Earlier, Jawahar Union and Income Tax (IT) played out a 1-1 draw in the ‘A’ Division.
Joseph Daniel’s opener for IT in the 17th minute was cancelled out Jawahar’s Nishad in the 48th minute.
Results: Super Division: Army Service Corps & Centre: 4 (Sreejith 22nd, Dawa 24th, Neeraj 83rd, 90+1) bt Students Union: 1 (Nanda 51st).
‘A’ Division: Income Tax: 1 (Joseph Daniel 17th) drew with Jawahar Union: 1 (Nishad 48th).