Aizawl FC grabbed their first win of the I-League after defeating
Gokulam Kerala FC 2-0 at the Mohun Bagan Training Ground
in Kolkata, West Bengal on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Strikes by Malsawmzuala and Lalrammawia were enough to
hand Aizawl the three points.
Aizawl FC started the match on an attacking note and it seemed the
club from Mizoram was trying to prove a point, attacking in droves from the
opening minute. In the third minute, Aizawl FC could have taken the lead had
Lalremsanga’s header off a cross from the right flank not been heroically saved
by the opposition custodian.
Despite dominating possession and chances created, Aizawl FC lacked
could not prise open the Gokulam Kerala defence. On the other side of the
pitch, Gokulam Kerala FC relied on counter-attacks, but did not get a clear
sniff of Aizawl’s goal. In the 21st minute, Gokulam’s
Afghan import Sharif Mohammad found Philip Adjah with an inch-perfect through
ball. Adjah, however, failed to dink the ball over an onrushing goalkeeper.
Adjah found action once again in the 33rd
minute when a pass from midfield found him inside the box. His shot from a
tight angle got lost in the jungle of Aizawl legs as it went out for a corner.
The breakthrough for Aizawl FC came in the 40th
minute when Malsawmzuala was brought down inside the box after a cross from the
right-wing. The forward slotted it comfortably from the spot to give Aizawl a
solitary goal lead.
Shortly into the second half, it felt like deja-vu for Gokulam
Kerala FC. In the 62 minute, when Dennis Antwi went clear
of his marker inside the box. Antwi tried to curl one into the top corner
around the goalkeeper, but hit the woodwork once again as Aizawl FC survived
another scare. With Gokulam not taking chances in front of goal, Aizawl FC
killed the game in the 76th minute when Lalrammawia
connected from a corner kick and side-footed the ball into the back of the net,
doubling their lead.
Salrbt
May 05, 2021 03:02 [IST]