2009-10
May 28 2010
Dempo had already clinched the title but it was a five-way relegation battle going into the final round of fixtures. Viva Kerala ensured their survival with a 1-1 away draw against East Bengal on the penultimate day of the campaign but four teams – Mumbai FC, Air India, Shillong Lajong and Sporting Clube de Goa – were still unsafe with only two to get relegated. The fixtures of all four teams were set for simultaneous kickoffs on the final day but only Air India and Mumbai FC had their fate in their own hands with the bottom two of Lajong and Sporting Clube depending on other results. Only Mumbai FC had a home fixture while the other three had away outings.
Sporting Clube had the least chance to survive as they not only needed to win but also required Mumbai and Lajong to lose. Sporting Clube certainly did their job as they won 1-0 away at Kolkata’s United Sports Club but other results didn’t go their way. Lajong had to better Mumbai’s result but the north-east club lost 3-1 away at Salgaocar while Khalid Jamil’s Mumbai side survived by winning 2-0 at home against Mohun Bagan. Just like the 2008-09 campaign, Air India suffered a heavy defeat on the last day as they were beaten 5-1 by Churchill Brothers but they still survived with Sporting Clube and Shillong Lajong going down.