They set the stage, invited the players and expected a party. The players almost let them down.

For Mohun Bagan fans, all roads led to the club ground today. They were up against George Telegraph in what had been billed as the championship match for the big team. Bagan won the match 1-0, and with that, effectively won the Calcutta Football League (CFL) Premier Division title. But it was George who won the heart.

It was around 2pm and a chock-a-block Metro compartment gave the impression of a rush hour.

Rush hour indeed it was, for those who swear by green-and-maroon. Outside the ground, the party started early. It kept the mounted police busy.

Inside, however, George were in fine fettle. The capacity turnout was getting edgy by the moment. Suddenly they erupted when PC Lalawmpuia scored in the 27th minute. Referee Rathin Mukherjee played spoilsport as he called off-side.

“Who appoint these morons?” — the supporters were angry. Old warhorse Jose Barreto calmed their nerves two minutes later. For the rest of the match, Bagan’s fate hung on that slender margin.

Baichung Bhutia, who preferred to cool his heels due to an injury, was stumped by a scribe as the latter asked him to comment on Singur. “Aare yaar match dekhne do. Mohun Bagan title jeet raha hai aur tum Singur ka baat kar rahe ho (please let me concentrate on the match. Bagan are winning the title and you are asking me about Singur!),” — the skipper appeared tense. The fans too were living on tenterhooks as the Geroge players were making a mockery of the Bagan midfield and defence. Ultimately, they breathed a sigh of relief, thanks to the support from referee Rathin Mukherjee and his assistants. Mukherjee’s reward, a blow from Bagan’s Isfaq Ahmed.

Maybe these were the reasons why celebrations were a little guarded after the match. There were firecrackers, paper-boats and loud cheers. But deep inside, even the ardent Bagan fans might have felt that George were the better team today.

So, they gradually turned the heat on East Bengal who would face Bagan on Friday. A draw that day will make the champions tag official and plans are already afoot for a bigger celebration.

All the while, Kolkata Police stood as a spectator and seemed to be enjoying the show. Fans thronged into the ground after the match and the players’ safety was at stake. By Fifa parlance, this is a serious offence. Here, the DC Ist Battalion Biswarup Ghosh, who was in charge, stunned everybody with his comments. “I don’t know how this has happened. Maybe they have gate-crashed into the ground.”