Aizawl FC actually finished eighth in the table with 16 points from 16 matches, but ninth and bottom-placed DSK Shivajians FC on 15 points were an expansion team at the start of this I-League campaign and they are exempt from relegation in the first three seasons.
Further seventh-placed Salgaocar FC finished on 16 points like Aizawl FC and have a worse goal difference, but in the I-League decisions on championship and relegation are made on head-to-head rather than goal difference, which in the end saved former champions Salgaocar FC and meant Aizawl FC are out of the top tier after only a single season.
But one can only hope that Aizawl FC learn their lessons and return stronger in the near future, then the club, their fans and the whole of Mizoram deserve I-League football!