Aizawl FC, TRAU register first win of the season

Aizawl FC beat Sudeva Delhi

Aizawl FC registered their first win in the I-League 2022-23 when they defeated Sudeva Delhi 2-1  at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl, Mizoram, on Monday, November 21, 2022.

Having drawn one and lost the other in their earlier two matches, Aizawl FC now have four points in their kitty after three rounds. Sudeva Delhi, on the other hand, are still without a point after three outings. On Monday, Sudeva took the lead through Seilenthang Lotjem in the 11th minute, but Aizawl FC found the equaliser when Lalchhawnkima struck in the 26th minute. In the second half, Matias Veron scored to fetch the home side three points.

The game started with both teams busy trying to control the midfield. Though Sudeva Delhi initially had more possession of the ball, the first chance fell in favour of the home team when R Lalthanmawia entered the box after beating the defender Nischal Chandan in the sixth minute but could not make use of it.

Sudeva took the lead when Kosuke Uchida won the ball in the midfield and gave it to Lunkim Seigoulun Khongsai, whose powerful shot was parried away by the Aizawl custodian Vikram Lahkbir Singh. The goalkeeper, however, could do little when Seilenthang Lotjem slotted home the rebound.

Kosuke nearly doubled the lead for the visitors in the 18th minute off a defensive error. The Japanese was quick to take a left-footed volley but it went a little wide of the target.

Midway through the first half, the People’s Club found their rhythm and started dominating the proceedings. In the 26th minute, R Ramdinthara was fouled on the left. A strong shot by Lalthanmawia from the free-kick awarded was cleared away by the Sudeva defence. The resultant corner then fell for Henry Kisseka, who saw his two back-to-back attempts blocked off with the second rebound finding its way to captain Lalchhawnkima, who struck the equaliser.

In the second half, Aizawl continued to dominate and maintain pressure on the away side. The hosts finally scored the second goal in the 64th minute. Kisseka’s back-heel pass found Ramdinthara, who crossed the ball for Matias Veron to find the target.

In the 70th minute, Aizawl striker Kisseka found Ramdinthara again but Sudeva custodian Jha made an outstanding save this time.

The Delhi outfits finally woke up in the final quarter and started throwing everything at the Aizawl defence in search of the equaliser, which remained elusive till the end.

TRAU edge past Kenkre FC

TRAU FC scored their first win in the 2022-23 I-League season when they blanked Mumbai Kenkre FC 3-0 in a second round tie at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal on Monday, November 21, 2022.

A first-half strike by Nana Poku followed by a double strike by Komron Tursunov in the second half helped TRAU pick up three points with a commanding performance.

The first chance of the game was created by TRAU in the13th minute – a right-footed cross by Yemdremban Naresh Singh found its way to striker Nana Poku, who failed to control the ball and gave away the opportunity.

TRAU continued to press and allowed no space to Kenkre. In the 20th minute, TRAU’s Tajikistan recruit Komrov Tursunov hit the crossbar after a deflection following a cross by Gerson from the left flank.

After 41 minutes of resilient defending by the visitors, the Red Pythons finally found a breakthrough. An intended shot by Tursunov from the edge of the box found its way to Poku, who had only the goalkeeper to beat. The Ghanaian forward sent Kenkre custodian Padam Chettri the wrong way as he broke the deadlock.

The start of the second half was more of a tussle for the ball in the midfield. Kenkre, however, soon went into offensive but TRAU’s custodian Loitongbam Bishorjit Singh made a couple of crucial saves. Kiran Pandhare’s lob found Azfar Noorani, who unleashed a powerful shot but Bishorjit Singh blocked it with his right foot. Pandhare took a prompt shot off the rebound, but Bishorjit rose to the occasion once again to make a fine save.

In the 75th minute, Gerson passed the ball to Tursunov and the Tajikistan striker launched a screaming right-footer that beat Chettri under the Kenkre goal all ends up.

Three minutes from the full-time whistle, Tursunov’s header towards the goal was partially saved by Padam Chettri but the ball deflected off a defender before going in.