Reigning champions Aizawl FC gave their supporters a reason to smile after registered an important 2-1 win against table toppers Minerva Punjab FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl earlier today.
Kareem Omolaja (72′) and Andrei Ionescu (85′) scored a goal each for Aizawl FC while Girik Khosla (90’+5) pulled one back for the away side. Meanwhile, it was the first defeat for the Punjab-based side following their five-match unbeaten run.
The home side made four changes in the Starting XI as David Lalrinmuana, Andrei Ionescu, William Lalnunfela and newly recruited Laldinliana started the game in place of Lalrinzuala, K. Lalthathanga, Yugo Kobayashi and Lalbiakthanga.
David and Ionescu, alongside captain Alfred Jaryan, manned the midfield and William Lalnunfela played the lone striker upfront and Leonce Dodoz and Lalmuankima flanked from opposite sides of the pitch. League leaders Minerva made no changes from their last match.
Paulo Menezes’ boys started the game upbeat as they forced the away team in their own half. David, Ionescu and Alfred dominated the midfield but the Minerva Punjab FC defence was a hard nut to get breached by the Highlanders.
David’s freekick from 35 yards was met by Afghan’s defender Saighani but caused no trouble for Minerva Punjab FC goalkeeper Dagar.
Former East Bengal midfielder David’s free-kick caused trouble for Minerva Punjab FC’s defender as the ball from David’s free-kick found Saighani yet again but the central defenders shot from the 6-yard box was superbly thwarted away by Dagar.
Leonce Dodoz was lively on the right side but could not break down Minerva Punjab FC’s defence as well. The home side dominated the ball possession but could not carve out a clear-cut goal scoring chance.
William Opoku tried his best to break down Aizawl FC’s defence but without the usual support from Chencho, his effort went into vain.
Saighani tapped the first goal of the match in the 21st minute but it was ruled out by the official owing to a foul on a Minerva Punjab FC defender much to the dismay of the loud Aizawl FC supporters.
Opoku’s shot drifted away from goal and Aidara header form Chencho’s free-kick flew a few foot away from Aizawl FC’s goalkeeper Avilash Paul’s goal. Both the teams were scoreless in the first 45 minutes.
Sukhdev Singh tried his best from his long throws but those were perfectly dealt by Aizawl FC defenders. Aizawl FC continued to dominate the game and scored the first goal of the game in the 72 minute.
The ball from David’s corner was guided to the far post of Minerva’s goal by defender Kareem Omolaja to leave goalkeeper Dagar completely stranded.
Minerva Punjab FC’s coach Khogen Singh introduced Moinuddin who scored the equaliser against Mohun Bagan towards the end of the game but the home side scored the second goal of the match to completely sweep aside Minerva Punjab FC.
Man of the Match Dodoz danced past Minerva Punjab FC’s defender and slide the ball to Romanian midfielder Ionescu who made no mistake as he slotted home his first goal of the I-League season.
Minerva Punjab FC pulled one back in the added time as Girik Khosla made the best out of the defensive lapses of Aizawl FC defenders but there was no time left for away side to equalise as the referee blew the whistle seconds after Khosla’s goal.
Following the win, Aizawl FC jump to the sixth spot with seven points from four matches whereas Minerva Punjab FC continue to enjoy the pole with 13 points from six matches.
Aizawl FC will now travel to Kozhikode to lock their horns with Gokulam Kerala FC on the final day of 2017 and Minerva Punjab FC will follow the same itinerary to clash with the Kerala outfit on January 6, 2018.