I-League 2015/16: Aizawl FC beat DSK 1-0 to keep survival hopes alive

I-League 2015/16: Aizawl FC beat DSK 1-0 to keep survival hopes alive

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Image Courtesy: © Facebook - I-League

Aizawl FC beat DSK Shivajians on Saturday night and kept their hopes of staying up alive with a close-fought 1-0 win at Pune. Joel Sunday gave them the lead after heading Lalmuankima’s delightful cross, after which the away side rode on Anganba’s heroics in goal to come away with the win.

Starting lineups:

DSK Shivajians: Subrata (GK), H. Amiri, S. Jhingan, Z. Ralte, L. Ralte,  Surachandra Singh, M. Singh, J. Q. Barroso, D. Pierre, B. Sahni, A. Dipanda(C)

Aizawl FC: Poirei Anganba(GK), D. Lalrinmuana(C), A. Jaryan, A. Zohmingmawia, Lalramchullova, Lalruatthara, Y. Kinowaki, Lalchhawnkima, H. Lalmuankima, Joel Sunday

Aizawl FC travelled to the SS Chatrapati Shivaji Complex in Pune, to take on DSK Shivajians. The North-East club came in search of a win, knowing a defeat could end their stay in the top division. And the nerves showed from the opening whistle, with the defence looking all over the place. Douhou Pierre and Amiri strung a beautiful move in the fourth minute but the away side cleared as the latter made inroads into the box. Only three minutes later, Dipanda missed a golden opportunity to put the Pune side in the lead, as after an excellent control his shot it high and wide. The chances continued to fall the home side’s way, with Surachandra Singh being the next to miss. Having been left unmarked at the edge of the box, the defensive player fired wide.

Aizawl slowly grew into the game and had a head-in-their-hands moment, when a Surachandra's error in the 20th minute wasn’t capitalized on. With half an hour gone, Lalmuankima missed another guilt-edged chance, when he skied his shot from 8 yards out, with the goal gaping in front of him. As both teams continued to miss chances, the game continued to remain in the balance going into half time. And one minute before the whistle, Surachandra missed another chance, shooting the ball straight at Anganba in goal.

The second half started in same frantic pace as the first with Aizawl dominating the ball. Their first-half misses were finally put to bed when Joel Sunday nodded in Lalmuankima’s cross in the 61st minute to put the away side a goal to the good. DSK though did not throw in the towel and created a host of chances. First, Dipanda tested Anganba in the 67th minute, then Douhou came close to equalizing with a long range effort but the goalkeeper ensured he kept his sheet clean. Douhou was guilty of missing another chance at the end as Aizawl went home victorious.

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