Mizoram Premier League | Defending champions Aizawl FC start with hard-earned draw
Defending Mizoram Premier League champions Aizawl FC were in for a steep task against Chinnga Veng as the three-time champions secured one point from the verge of defeat in their opening game. In other matches, Mizroma Police defeated Chawnpui while Chanmari overcame Ramhlun North’s challenge.
With the match already delayed due to heavy rain at Lammual Stadium in Aizawl on Friday, Aizawl FC started as the better side with Isak Vanlalruatfela putting the defending champions ahead in the 27th minute. However, some lacklustre defending saw Chinnga Veng equalizing from the spot just two minutes later through MC Malsawmzuala.
Chinnga Veng kept pushing after the break and eventually got their reward as they won a free-kick midway into the second half. Malsawmzuala had luck favouring him as his low shot saw the ball getting ricocheted off the wall and trickling into the right side of the net.
Aizawl had to do something and fast and with Chinnga Veng sitting deep to defend made it all the more difficult. Nothing was going Aizawl’s way with their players losing both plot and hope as the match went into added time. And, it was then, with just seconds go, that Joe Zohera’s floating long ball saw Lalramhmunmawia heading home equalizer. The hard-fought match ended 2-2.
Earlier in the day, Mizoram Police got the better of Chawnpui 2-1 with F Lalrinpuia and Lalhmunmawia scoring in the 14th and 49th minute, while C Lalremruata of Chawnpui scored their only goal in the 74th minute. The last match of the day saw Chanmari beating Ramhlun North 3-1, thanks to goals from Lalmuankima, Lalnunzama, and MS Dawngliana. For Ramhlun, Jessy Vanlalmuana had scored in the 44th minute but it never made way for his team.
