I-League Media

AIZAWL: Aizawl FC came back to their winning ways in the Hero I-League as they garnered a 1-0 win over DSK Shivajians, thanks to the late goal by Brandon who came in from the bench at the stroke of the hour mark. Eventually, Aizawl FC skipper Alfred Jaryan was bestowed with the Hero of the Match award.

Prior to the match, both sides had played 5 matches each, with Aizawl was at the third spot with 10 points and DSK Shivajians FC were seventh in the table, with one win to their credit.

Though both the sides wanted to walk away with points, that did not really translate across in the match. In the fifth minute, DSK Shivajians were awarded a free-kick from 40 yards, but that did not turn out to be a success.

A couple of minutes later, Ashutosh Mehta made an excellent through ball which R. Laldanmawia dribbled past an away defender but he failed to find the back of the net, with his shot going haywire. Ashutosh’s striking cross also got blocked by the away defence a minute later.

Aizawl FC defender Lalruatthara’s spectacular shot from the right flank also missed the target, and Aizawl FC had to lose Al-Amna when he got injured on 15 minutes.

DSK Shivajians also continued with their attempts in the attacking third, but their corner kick taken by striker Lallianzuala flew over the bar.

In spite of the moves made by both sides to change the scoreline in their favour, the first half did not display any dangerous goal attempts. The first half ended without a goal.

The second half did not offer much goal mouth action either and was concentrated in the midfield for the majority of the time. In the 79th minute, Seita Singh’s dramatic effort to score was brilliantly blocked by goalkeeper Poirei for DSK Shivajians.

The home side increasingly became more fluent in their attacking third as the match neared its end, In the 83rd minute, Brandon Vanlalremdika received H. Lalmuankima’s cross from the left flank but failed to convert the ball.

Finally, the super-sub Brandon converted the half-chance to register their fourth win of the season under Khalid Jamil.

With three more points from the day’s match, Aizawl FC now have 13 points, on par with the Kolkata giants playing one match more.