Shillong, May 17: Diamond Harbour FC secured the Indian Football League 2025-26 title with a game to spare after drawing 1-1 with Dempo SC in Goa this evening.
The solitary point earned means that Diamond Harbour (in their first season in the IFL) have won the title and, with it, promotion to next season’s Indian Super League.
Second-placed Shillong Lajong FC needed Dempo to win to take the title fight to the last game of the season, where SLFC will be hosted by Diamond Harbour. Now, with the title wrapped up, Lajong have only the runners-up position to fight for, where they are involved in a fight with Sreenidi Deccan FC.
Although they won’t be competing for the title, second or even third would be mightily impressive for Lajong, who are playing with an all-domestic squad this season and who have never been this high in the standings before.
Coming back to today’s match, after a goalless first half Dempo scored via Marcus Joseph (50′) and any Lajong fans watching would have been hoping the Goans would hold on but Hugo Diaz (90’+1) equalised in stoppage time.
Dempo stay sixth in the standings – tied on 14 points with Chanmari FC, the latter have head-to-head advantage and thus occupy fifth position with one round to play.
(Indian Football League photo)
