The race for the two premier division league berths was left wide open with the much-hyped encounter between Kolkata's Mohammedan Sporting and Goa's Haywards Sporting in the Second Division National Football League finals ending in a tame goalless draw on Sunday.
The two sides which went into the match with three points each needed a win to book their place in next year's first division. But the much-awaited encounter turned out be a mediocre affair as both the teams failed to play to their potential. The only excitement came through some heated exchanges between the players.
With the teams sharing a point each the last league encounters, to be played on Tuesday will decide the two qualifiers.
While the Goa boys will play lowly-placed Air India, Mohammedan Sporting have to face State Bank of Travencore (SBT), who have three points from two outings.
Haywards started the game on a promising note with their Nigerian forward Dudu Omagbemi knocking on the Mohammeden goal in the very first minute, only to squander a relatively easy chance with just the goalkeeper to beat.
But that remained the only realistic chance for the Goan side as its players seemed to lack coordination in the midfield.
Mohemmaden Sporting were no different than their opponents as they failed to put the Haywards custodian Felix D'Souza under any sort of pressure for the entire 90 minutes.
