Khel Now logo
HomeSportsIPL 2024Live Score

Football

Minerva Punjab sail to the top after trouncing Aizawl

Published at :February 26, 2018 at 5:33 PM
Modified at :February 26, 2018 at 5:33 PM
Post Featured Image

Khel Now


The Indian winger took the lead in the early part of the 2nd half for the North Indian club.

Minerva Punjab FC beat Aizawl FC 2-0 at their own backyard to go top of the Hero I-League table. Akash Sangwan (51′) and Bazie Armand (90’+5′) struck twice in the second half to roar back in the title race.

The home side dominated the first half in terms of possession as well as the number of attempts on goal. The first chance for them came in the 7th minute when Chencho lofted the ball for Bali who was on the run at the edge of the penalty box but the pace in ball was just too much for him to have a contact.

Chencho tried his luck in the 11th minute with a dummy rank near the box before unleashing his shot which sailed over the crossbar. William got another chance in the 27th minute when he found himself in an excellent position to score from Kamalpreet’s pinpointed cross but his effort went inches wide of the goalpost.

Aizawl, meanwhile, almost took the lead against the run of play when in-form striker Lalkhawpuimawia missed an opportunity to convert an immaculate cross from Ionescu in the 37th minute.

Minutes later, Chencho missed a header to leave the Aizawl dugout relieved. William missed arguably the easiest one-on-one opportunity against Avilash Paul but his horrible chip went wayward before the referee blew the half-time whistle.

Minerva took a lead early on in the second half when a brilliant combination play between William, Chencho and Akash resulted in the first goal of the match, incidentally, it was the first goal by the youngster in the premier league of the country.

Chencho was left open on the right flank from where he crossed the ball low towards the path of local boy Akash who made no mistake in converting from 6 yards out. Aizawl almost scored an own goal in the 63rd minute when Sukhdev’s long throw shook Aizawl’s defence.

A series of injuries to both teams interrupted the flow of play since then. Aizawl had a chance in the 75th minute when Ionescu made his way inside the Minerva box but his powerless shot was blocked by Minerva defenders.

ALSO READ:

Slow and steady win the race: How Chennai City are laying the building blocks of long-term success

The enthusiasm of the people towards NEROCA has been overwhelming- Subash Singh

I-League Week 14 Preview: No room for error as Minerva, East Bengal and NEROCA mount final title bid

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Minerva Punjab Goalkeeper made a brilliant save in the 85th minute to keep the scoreline unscathed after a series of deflection seriously threatened Minerva’s defence. Minerva hit the final nail in Aizawl FC’s coffin in the last minute of added time when Bazie, who was introduced to the game only two minutes before, converted William’s cross from handshaking distance.

With the win, Minerva Punjab goes one point clear at the top having played one match less than second-placed NEROCA FC. The Punjab-outfit will now travel to Coimbatore to face Chennai City FC on March 2, 2018, whereas the reigning champions Aizawl FC will host Gokulam Kerala FC on the same day.

Advertisement

TRENDING TOPICS

IMPORTANT LINK

  • About Us
  • Home
  • Khel Now TV
  • Sitemap
  • Feed
Khel Icon

Download on the

App Store

GET IT ON

Google Play


2024 KhelNow.com Agnificent Platform Technologies Pte. Ltd.